Publications by authors named "CF Chang"

Biochemical recurrence (BCR) is a critical concern in prostate cancer management; however, its underlying genetic determinants remain poorly understood. The () gene family is involved in cellular detoxification and biosynthetic processes and has been implicated in various cancers. This study investigated the association between the family members and prostate cancer recurrence.

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Primordial germ cells (PGCs), the progenitors of gametes, are essential for teleost reproduction. While their formation is conserved across teleosts, the activation, migration routes, and localization periods vary among species. In this study, we developed a novel transgenic line, Tg(ddx4:TcCFP13-nanos3), based on the Nile tilapia genome, to label PGCs with clear fluorescent signals in the freshwater angelfish (Pterophyllum scalare).

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Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) involves neuroinflammation and amyloid plaque deposition, yet the role of amyloid-reactive immune response in neurodegeneration remains unclear. We investigate amyloid-reactive T cell levels in the Epidemiology of Mild Cognitive Impairment Study in Taiwan (EMCIT) and Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative of Cognitive Impairment and Dementia (TPMIC) cohorts.

Method: Using diverse amyloid peptide formulations, we established a polyfunctionality assay for five T cell functions and compared mild cognitive impairment (MCI) patients to control subjects in both cohorts.

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A pseudohalide (SCN) tin-based perovskite material using a solvent-free ball milling method is developed. The synthesized perovskite exhibits long-term water stability and demonstrated significant photocatalytic activity in reducing CO to CO under light irradiation. The structural transition from nanoparticles to planar perovskites is achieved by varying the ratios of dimethylammonium (DMA) and formamidinium (FA) cations, which is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses.

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Plasticizers are recognized as environmental pollutants that may be associated with a range of health concerns, including impacts on growth, development, and oncogenic risks. Previous research demonstrated that prolonged exposure to di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and its metabolite mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate contributes to chemotherapeutic drug resistance and stemness in colorectal cancer cells. Aloe vera, an herbaceous plant with a long-standing history in traditional medicine, has attracted considerable attention for its diverse pharmacological properties.

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Wearable ultrasound has been widely developed for long-term, continuous imaging without the need for bulky system manipulation and repeated manual locating. To potentially lead to more accurate and reliable imaging monitoring, this work presents the design, fabrication, and evaluation of a novel high-frequency wearable ultrasound array belt (WUAB) for small animal echocardiography. The fabrication process involved precise dicing technology for a λ-pitch design.

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Background: Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1347093 shows statistically significant association with lung cancer risk, but there is no further rs1347093 expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) effect information. SNP rs1347093 is located in microRNA-216/-217 (miR-216/-217) locus. In addition, miR-216/-217 have pancreas-enriched expressions.

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Since females grow faster in penaeid shrimp, all-female aquaculture was proposed. Environmental conditions in the Pacific white shrimp did not found to affect genetic sex determination (ZZ/ZW system). The androgenic gland (AG)-secreting insulin-like androgenic gland hormone (IAG) is a key controlling factor in crustacean male differentiation.

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Objective: Current shear wave elastography methods primarily focus on 2D imaging. To explore mechanical properties of biological tissues in 3D, a four-dimensional (4D, x, y, z, t) ultrasound shear wave elastography is required. However, 4D ultrasound shear wave elastography is still challenging due to the limitation of the hardware of standard ultrasound acquisition systems.

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Recent advancements have elucidated the multifaceted roles of the Schlafen (SLFN) family, including SLFN5, SLFN11, SLFN12, SLFN13, and SLFN14, which are implicated in immunological responses. However, little is known about the roles of this gene family in relation to malignancy development. The current study aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic potential of Schlafen family genes in colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) through bioinformatics analysis.

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Lung cancer in women is a modern epidemic and represents a global health crisis. Cigarette smoking remains the most important risk factor for lung cancer in all patients and, among women globally, rates of smoking continue to increase. Although some data exist supporting sex-based differences across the continuum of lung cancer, there is currently a dearth of research exploring the differences in risk, biology, and treatment outcomes in women.

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Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorder globally, has emerged as a significant health concern. Recently it has been revealed that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a critical role in AD pathogenesis and progression. Their stability and presence in various biofluids, such as blood, offer a minimally invasive window for monitoring AD-related changes.

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A sex change phenomenon was reported in some free-living, non-sessile coral species of the Family Fungiidae. However, there are no reports describing sex change in sessile colonial species. Timing and cellular processes of sex change are also unclear in corals.

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Objectives: While extensive research has focused on patient outcomes in skilled nursing facilities, a critical gap remains in understanding factors influencing their managerial performance, particularly occupancy rates. This study examines the occupancy rates of skilled nursing facilities and assesses the significance of two important drivers of managerial performance that have not received sufficient attention-the influence of payer mix and total profit margin. Specifically, we focused on the role played by a nursing home's financial performance (as assessed by profit margin) in influencing the relationship between payer mix and occupancy rate among skilled nursing facilities.

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Production of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs) can significantly reduce the aviation industry's carbon footprint. Current pathways that produce SAFs in significant volumes from ethanol and fatty acids can be costly, have a relatively high carbon intensity (CI), and impose sustainability challenges. There is a need for a diversified approach to reduce costs and utilize more sustainable feedstocks effectively.

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Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is characterized by high mortality and morbidity rates. Vav guanine nucleotide exchange factors (VAVs), crucial for signal transduction between cell membrane receptors and intracellular mediators, have been implicated in carcinogenesis. However, their potential prognostic value in RCC remains unclear.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study outlines an efficient method to synthesize etrasimod, starting from a specific cyclopentenol compound, achieving a 5.6% yield with 98% enantiomeric excess.
  • A key intermediate was created through a unique rearrangement process that inverted the configuration of the starting compound.
  • The process included several stages to form a tetracyclic fused lactam and eventually produced cyclopenta[]indol-3-ylacetic acid by removing an oxo group and performing a series of reactions.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the role of the SERF1a factor in the fibrillization of huntingtin exon 1, which is crucial for understanding Huntington's disease.
  • Researchers used various methods, including SEC-SWAXS, NMR, and molecular simulations, to show that SERF1a binds tightly to the N-terminal region of huntingtin's NT17 peptide.
  • The findings suggest that the structure of these peptides affects how they interact with SERF1a, with more structured peptides having weaker binding, shedding light on the mechanism behind Httex1 fibrillization.
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This study aimed to define the role of heterogeneity of liver parenchymal enhancement on computed tomography (CT) in the survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after hepatic resection. The medical records of patients with HCCs and who had undergone hepatic resection were retrospectively reviewed. The standard deviation (SD) of three different enhanced CT scan images was used to estimate the heterogeneity of liver parenchymal enhancement: SD of > 5.

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Non-CpG methylation is associated with several cellular processes, especially neuronal development and cancer, while its effect on DNA structure remains unclear. We have determined the crystal structures of DNA duplexes containing -CGCCG- regions as CCG repeat motifs that comprise a non-CpG site with or without cytosine methylation. Crystal structure analyses have revealed that the mC:G base-pair can simultaneously form two alternative conformations arising from non-CpG methylation, including a unique water-mediated cis Watson-Crick/Hoogsteen, (w)cWH, and Watson-Crick (WC) geometries, with partial occupancies of 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Researchers used transcutaneous laryngeal ultrasound (TLUS) to monitor HA absorption in patients with either unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP) or vocal fold atrophy, finding that the cause of injection significantly affects HA maintenance duration.
  • * TLUS proved to be a valuable assessment tool, providing objective data that could guide personalized follow-up care, especially for patients who may not tolerate more invasive procedures.
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Background: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (HPSCC) has the poorest prognosis among head and neck cancers. Its treatment may significantly affect breathing, speaking, and swallowing. Induction chemotherapy (ICT) followed by transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) could reduce these adverse effects and achieve good outcomes.

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Pathological deposition and crosslinking of collagen type I by activated myofibroblasts drives progressive tissue fibrosis. Therapies that inhibit collagen synthesis have potential as antifibrotic agents. We identify the collagen chaperone cyclophilin B as a major cellular target of the natural product sanglifehrin A (SfA) using photoaffinity labeling and chemical proteomics.

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