Wild coral oocytes are more amenable to low temperature preservation than cultured counterparts.

Few studies have examined the biochemical differences between cultured and wild coral after undergoing low-temperature preservation. The present study aimed to explore the differences in the biochemical characteristics of cultured and wild coral cells and oocytes (Echinopora gemmacea and Oxypora lacera) in cryopreservation conditions. Wild and cultured coral cells were extracted and subjected to freezing experiments involving multiple types and concentrations of cryoprotectant, and the oocytes from the cultured and wild corals were subjected to chilling experiments.

Long-term use of valproic acid reduced mortality in bipolar disorder patients in a Taiwanese population: An association analysis using the national health insurance research database (NHIRD).

Objective: Valproic acid (VPA) is used for the treatment of epilepsy and bipolar disorder (BD). The aims of this study was to examine that long-term VPA use affects mortality in BD patients.

Methods: Association analysis was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) of Taiwan.

Ultralow-Threshold Continuous-Wave Room-Temperature Crystal-Fiber/Nanoperovskite Hybrid Lasers for All-Optical Photonic Integration.

Continuous-wave (CW) room-temperature (RT) laser operation with low energy consumption is an ultimate goal for electrically driven lasers. A monolithically integrated perovskite laser in a chip-level fiber scheme is ideal. However, because of the well-recognized air and thermal instabilities of perovskites, laser action in a perovskite has mostly been limited to either pulsed or cryogenic-temperature operations.

Second-line Hormonal Therapy for the Management of Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer: a Real-World Data Study Using a Claims Database.

We evaluated the efficacy of second-line hormonal therapy for treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in a real-world retrospective study. We conducted a population-based real-world cohort study of 258 mCRPC patients between 2014 and 2018 using the Chang Gung Research Database (CGRD) of Taiwan. The second-line hormonal therapy included abiraterone acetate and enzalutamide.

The Potential Effect of Different Doses of Ionizing Radiation on Genes and Disease.

Aim: The chromosomal aberrations induced by radiation appear about nonrandomly distributed across the whole genome. Previous studies have shown that chromosomes with high DNA content are less frequently involved in the formation of symmetrical translocations and dicentric chromosomes than expected, whereas smaller chromosomes are more frequently involved. We hypothesized that these translocation regions are linked to radiation sensitivity.

Surgical technique to achieve high durability of flexible ureteroscopes: A single hospital experience.

Background: To describe a novel operative technique resulting in extended durability and improved ease of use of current flexible ureteroscopes (FURS). A surgical method employing a modified technique of using an Olympus digital flexible URF-V ureteroscope was developed.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 546 patients who underwent retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) using this modified approach performed by a single surgeon at our hospital, and investigated the outcome and durability of the ureteroscope.

Significance of IL-6 in the transition of hormone-resistant prostate cancer and the induction of myeloid-derived suppressor cells.

Hormone-resistant (HR) prostate cancers are highly aggressive and respond poorly to treatment. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in HR should lead to more rational approaches to therapy. The role of IL-6/STAT3 signaling in the transition of HR with aggressive tumor behavior and its possible link with myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were identified.

Expression and function role of DNA methyltransferase 1 in human bladder cancer.

Background: The identification of potential tumor markers will help improve therapeutic planning and patient management. Therefore, the aim of this study was to highlight the role of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) in bladder cancer.

Methods: A total of 50 samples of nonmalignant urothelium, 65 of muscle-invasive bladder cancers, 15 of distant metastasis, and 50 of nonmuscle-invasive bladder cancers were selected for immunohistochemical staining analysis.

Ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 K173Q polymorphism is associated with diabetic nephropathy in the Taiwanese population.

Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the world. The cause of diabetic nephropathy seems to be multifactorial, and about one-third of patients with diabetes eventually develop this complication. The gene encoding ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) is a candidate susceptibility gene for obesity and type 2 diabetes.

Insulin resistance in the middle-aged women with "Tigerish Back and Bearish Waist".

The objective of this study was to elucidate the role of fat distribution in predicting insulin resistance in peri- or post-menopausal women. The results demonstrated that insulin resistance increases with waist circumference and subscapular skinfold thickness but decreases with higher thigh circumflex in the peri- and post-menopausal women.

Primary testicular actinomycosis mimicking metastatic tumor.

We report a rare case of right primary testicular actinomycosis presenting as multiple testicular lesions mimicking a metastatic tumor in a 71-year-old patient with gastric adenocarcinoma. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult. The enlarged and inflamed testis was removed by orchiectomy and testicular actinomycosis was diagnosed after pathological examination.

A randomized trial comparing intravesical instillations of mitoxantrone and doxorubicin in patients with superficial bladder cancer.

Background: This randomized trial was conducted to compare the efficacy and side effects of intravesical mitoxantrone instillation with those of doxorubicin in superficial bladder cancer following transurethral resection.

Methods: Sixty-three patients were randomized into mitoxantrone and doxorubicin groups. Most of the patients enrolled were elderly people (mean age, 71 years).