Development of the Risk Management Mechanism of an Enterprise Resource Planning System based on Work System Method

This study collects 24 risk-management-relevant research papers published between 2000 and 2010 to elicit significant risk factors and thus develop the risk management mechanism of an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The study adopts the grounded theory and conducts an expert questionnaire in order to report its findings on 49 risk factors. Based on the work system method, the identified factors are classified into nine categories and a risk management mechanism is developed thereafter. Finally, to examine the feasibility of the mechanism, two case studies are further investigated. The developed mechanism is found to be a convenient, quick, and proper ERP system risk management tool that can assist enterprises in identifying, analyzing, assessing, and responding to potential risks

Transarterial detachable coil embolization of direct carotid-cavernous fistula: Immediate and long-term outcomes

AbstractBackgroundTransarterial embolization is a standard method for management of direct carotid-cavernous fistula (DCCF). The purpose of this study was to report our experiences, and immediate and long-term outcomes of endovascular embolization of DCCFs by using detachable coils (DCs).MethodsOver 8 years, 24 patients with 25 DCCFs underwent endovascular DC embolization. There were 15 men and nine women; age ranged from 8 to 82 years (mean, 39 years). Immediate and long-term angiographic as well as clinical outcomes after endovascular DC embolization were retrospectively analyzed. The number and the length of DCs used to occlude the fistula were also evaluated.ResultsEighteen DCCFs were successfully occluded by single-session endovascular embolization with preservation of the parent artery. Retreatments by transvenous (n = 5) and/ or transorbital routes (n = 3) had to be performed in seven patients because of residual fistula (n = 4) or recurrent fistula (n = 4) occurring within 3 weeks after embolization. The average numbers and length of coils to occlude the fistulas were 14 (range, 2–31) and 189 cm (range, 16–756 cm), respectively. Four patients had small residual fistulas with spontaneous thrombosis on follow-up angiography. Three patients had transient cranial nerve impairment of the third (n = 1) or sixth (n = 2) nerve. There was no significant procedure-related neurological complication. The follow-up period was 3–48 months (mean, 19 months)ConclusionEndovascular DC embolization of DCCFs was proved both efficacious and safe in managing high-flow fistulas with sustained angiographic and clinical effects, particularly in those DCCFs with small fistula track and/or cavernous sinus. However, retreatment via various routes may be necessary in some patients because of residual or recurrent fistulas

Probing the DNA kink structure induced by the hyperthermophilic chromosomal protein Sac7d

Sac7d, a small, abundant, sequence-general DNA-binding protein from the hyperthermophilic archaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius, causes a single-step sharp kink in DNA (∼60°) via the intercalation of both Val26 and Met29. These two amino acids were systematically changed in size to probe their effects on DNA kinking. Eight crystal structures of five Sac7d mutant–DNA complexes have been analyzed. The DNA-binding pattern of the V26A and M29A single mutants is similar to that of the wild-type, whereas the V26A/M29A protein binds DNA without side chain intercalation, resulting in a smaller overall bending (∼50°). The M29F mutant inserts the Phe29 side chain orthogonally to the C2pG3 step without stacking with base pairs, inducing a sharp kink (∼80°). In the V26F/M29F-GCGATCGC complex, Phe26 intercalates deeply into DNA bases by stacking with the G3 base, whereas Phe29 is stacked on the G15 deoxyribose, in a way similar to those used by the TATA box-binding proteins. All mutants have reduced DNA-stabilizing ability, as indicated by their lower T(m) values. The DNA kink patterns caused by different combinations of hydrophobic side chains may be relevant in understanding the manner by which other minor groove-binding proteins interact with DNA

BioXpress: an integrated RNA-seq-derived gene expression database for pan-cancer analysis.

BioXpress is a gene expression and cancer association database in which the expression levels are mapped to genes using RNA-seq data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas, International Cancer Genome Consortium, Expression Atlas and publications. The BioXpress database includes expression data from 64 cancer types, 6361 patients and 17 469 genes with 9513 of the genes displaying differential expression between tumor and normal samples. In addition to data directly retrieved from RNA-seq data repositories, manual biocuration of publications supplements the available cancer association annotations in the database. All cancer types are mapped to Disease Ontology terms to facilitate a uniform pan-cancer analysis. The BioXpress database is easily searched using HUGO Gene Nomenclature Committee gene symbol, UniProtKB/RefSeq accession or, alternatively, can be queried by cancer type with specified significance filters. This interface along with availability of pre-computed downloadable files containing differentially expressed genes in multiple cancers enables straightforward retrieval and display of a broad set of cancer-related genes

A novel role of sesamol in inhibiting NF-κB-mediated signaling in platelet activation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Platelet activation is relevant to a variety of coronary heart diseases. Our previous studies revealed that sesamol possesses potent antiplatelet activity through increasing cyclic AMP formation. Although platelets are anucleated cells, they also express the transcription factor, NF-κB, that may exert non-genomic functions in platelet activation. Therefore, we further investigated the inhibitory roles of sesamol in NF-κB-mediated platelet function.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Platelet aggregation, Fura 2-AM fluorescence, and immunoblotting analysis were used in this study.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>NF-κB signaling events, including IKKβ phosphorylation, IκBα degradation, and p65 phosphorylation, were markedly activated by collagen (1 μg/ml) in washed human platelets, and these signaling events were attenuated by sesamol (2.5~25 μM). Furthermore, SQ22536 and ODQ, inhibitors of adenylate cyclase and guanylate cyclase, respectively, strongly reversed the sesamol (25 μM)-mediated inhibitory effects of IKKβ phosphorylation, IκBα degradation, and p65 phosphorylation stimulated by collagen. The protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor, H89, also reversed sesamol-mediated inhibition of IκBα degradation. Moreover, BAY11-7082, an NF-κB inhibitor, abolished IκBα degradation, phospholipase C (PLC)γ2 phosphorylation, protein kinase C (PKC) activation, [Ca²⁺]i mobilization, and platelet aggregation stimulated by collagen. Preincubation of platelets with the inhibitors, SQ22536 and H89, both strongly reversed sesamol-mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation and [Ca²⁺]i mobilization.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Sesamol activates cAMP-PKA signaling, followed by inhibition of the NF-κB-PLC-PKC cascade, thereby leading to inhibition of [Ca²⁺]i mobilization and platelet aggregation. Because platelet activation is not only linked to hemostasis, but also has a relevant role in inflammation and metastasis, our data demonstrating that inhibition of NF-κB interferes with platelet function may have a great impact when these types of drugs are considered for the treatment of cancer and various inflammatory diseases.</p

Prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection in BCG-vaccinated healthcare workers by using an interferon-gamma release assay and the tuberculin skin test in an intermediate tuberculosis burden country

BackgroundThe risk of healthcare workers (HCWs) acquiring tuberculosis (TB) infection is high. We determined the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in HCWs with a high Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine coverage in an intermediate TB burden country by using an interferon-gamma release assay [QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G)] and by using the tuberculin skin test (TST). Risk factors associated with a positive test were determined.MethodsThis prospective cross-sectional study enrolled HCWs from a medical center in Taiwan. Participants were grouped into workers without exposure (Group 1) and workers who self-reported a history of TB exposure (Group 2). All participants completed a questionnaire to collect demographic information and risk factors for acquiring TB. The QFT-G test and the TST were administered and risk factors for a positive test were analyzed.ResultsWe recruited 193 HCWs [149 (77.2%) female workers] with a mean age of 35.6 years. All were BCG-vaccinated. The prevalence of LTBI was 88.8% (based on the TST) and 14.5% (based on the QFT-G test). There was no difference between HCWs with and without known exposure to TB. Agreement between the tests was poor (i.e., the kappa value was less than 0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that only the QFT-G test was associated with age (35 years or greater) (adjusted OR, 2.53; p = 0.03).ConclusionBy using the QFT-G test or TST, this study found a similar prevalence of LTBI in HCWs with and without known exposure to TB. This suggests that in intermediate TB burden countries exposure to TB may occur within the hospital and within the community. Compared to the TST, the QFT-G test was correlated better with age, which is a known risk factor for latent TB infection

Drug-coated balloon treatment in coronary artery disease: Recommendations from an Asia-Pacific Consensus Group

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is currently the leading cause of death globally, and the prevalence of thisdisease is growing more rapidly in the Asia-Pacific region than in Western countries. Although the useof metal coronary stents has rapidly increased thanks to the advancement of safety and efficacy of newergeneration drug eluting stent (DES), patients are still negatively affected by some the inherent limitationsof this type of treatment, such as stent thrombosis or restenosis, including neoatherosclerosis, andthe obligatory use of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with unknown optimal duration.Drug-coated balloon (DCB) treatment is based on a leave-nothing-behind concept and therefore it is notlimited by stent thrombosis and long-term DAPT; it directly delivers an anti-proliferative drug whichis coated on a balloon after improving coronary blood flow. At present, DCB treatment is recommendedas the first-line treatment option in metal stent-related restenosis linked to DES and bare metal stent.For de novo coronary lesions, the application of DCB treatment is extended further, for conditions suchas small vessel disease, bifurcation lesions, and chronic total occlusion lesions, and others. Recently,several reports have suggested that fractional flow reserve guided DCB application was safe for largercoronary artery lesions and showed good long-term outcomes. Therefore, the aim of these recommendationsof the consensus group was to provide adequate guidelines for patients with CAD based on objectiveevidence, and to extend the application of DCB to a wider variety of coronary diseases and guide theirmost effective and correct use in actual clinical practice