Publications by authors named "Hong-Hwa Chen"

This study tested the hypothesis that combined therapy with probiotics and cytokine-induced killer (CIK) cells was superior to merely one on suppressing the peritoneal carcinomatosis and liver metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in nude mice. The study revealed that in HCT 116/SW620 CRC cell lines, cell viability, proliferation, colony formation, migratory ability, wound healing, and protein expression of PD-L1 and FAK were significantly and comparably suppressed and that apoptosis was significantly and comparably increased by probiotics and CIK cells, and these effects were further significantly enhanced by combined probiotics + CIK cell therapy (all p<0.001).

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  • The study creates the first core collection (CC) of Taiwanese Phalaenopsis orchids to protect genetic diversity and improve breeding efficiency, using 207 commercial cultivars and genetic markers.
  • Utilizing weighted-means clustering, seven distinct genetic clusters were identified, leading to the selection of 22 representative accessions for conservation and breeding.
  • The research highlights the importance of thorough evaluations and statistical analyses to ensure the CC's effectiveness, ultimately aiding orchid breeding and sustainable agriculture practices.
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Background: A retrotransposon HORT1 in the promoter of the anthocyanin activator gene PeMYB11, microRNA858 (miR858) that targets PeMYB11, and a repressor PeMYBx have been implicated in pigmentation patterning diversity of harlequin Phalaenopsis orchids. However, the interrelationship among them remains to be elucidated.

Results: To understand how these factors interact to generate anthocyanin spots in Phalaenopsis, we successfully developed a mathematical model based on the known reaction-diffusion system to simulate their interplay and refined the conceptual biological model.

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Background: Robot-assisted surgery has been increasingly adopted in colorectal cancer resection.

Objective: The study aimed to compare the inpatient outcomes of robot-assisted versus conventional laparoscopic colorectal cancer resection in patients aged 75 years and older.

Design: A retrospective, population-based study.

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  • A multicenter study assessed the survival benefits of combining metastasectomy with first-line cetuximab-based chemotherapy in patients with wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), measuring overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) as primary endpoints.
  • Of the 758 enrolled patients, the study found that those who underwent metastasectomy had significantly better OS (54.9 months) and PFS (21.0 months) compared to those who did not, highlighting the importance of this surgical intervention in treatment outcomes.
  • The analysis also identified that patients receiving 14 or more treatment cycles had improved survival rates and higher chances of undergoing metastasectomy, suggesting this as an optimal treatment duration for maximizing outcomes in m
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The underlying mechanism of colorectal cells developing into cancer cells has been extensively investigated, yet is still not fully delineated, resulting in the treatment of advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) remains regrettably an unmet need. Zinc Finger Protein 746/Parkin-interacting substrate (ZNF746/PARIS) has previously been identified to play a fundamental role on bladder cancer cell proliferation and metastasis that were effectively inhibited by melatonin (Mel). In this study, we utilized ex vivo/in vivo studies to verify whether the ZNF746 signaling was also crucial in CRC growth/invasion/migration.

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Background: The orchid industry has seen a recent surge in export values due to the floral morphology and versatile applications of orchids in various markets for medicinal, food additive, and cosmetic usages. However, plant-related diseases, including the yellow leaf disease caused by Fusarium solani, have caused significant losses in the production value of Phalaenopsis (up to 30%).

Results: In this study, 203 Phalaenopsis cultivars were collected from 10 local orchid nurseries, and their disease severity index and correlation with flower size were evaluated.

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  • - The study aimed to investigate if long-term aspirin use affects the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) among hospitalized patients aged 50 and older in the U.S. using a large national database.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from over 3.4 million patients, finding that 19.7% had a history of long-term aspirin use, and after balancing groups, results showed aspirin use was linked to a significantly lower likelihood of being diagnosed with CRC (adjusted odds ratio of 0.64).
  • - The findings suggest that long-term aspirin use may be associated with a reduced risk of CRC in U.S. adults over 50, irrespective of factors like age, sex, race, BMI, or smoking habits.
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Hepatectomy and/or local ablation therapy have been recommended for colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). However, they still lack strong evidence for their survival benefits, in addition to systemic therapy. This study aims to evaluate the survival evidence of hepatectomy and/or radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy in CRLM patients from a large multi-institutional database.

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Background: Early-stage colorectal cancer had excellent outcomes after curative resection, typically. However, a perplexing survival paradox between stage II and stage III was noted. This paradox could be influenced by the administration of routine postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of high-risk factors in stage II CRC.

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  • Malnutrition is a frequent issue in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) undergoing targeted therapy and chemotherapy, leading to increased toxicity and lower survival rates.
  • This study analyzed data from 758 patients treated with cetuximab and chemotherapy, separating them into groups that did or did not receive supplemental home parenteral nutrition (HPN).
  • Results showed that the HPN group had higher rates of successful surgeries, longer treatment durations, and improved overall and progression-free survival compared to the non-HPN group, suggesting HPN may enhance treatment outcomes for certain mCRC patients.
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  • The study focuses on metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) and the transition of lymph node metastasis (LNM) from Stage II to Stage III, which is crucial for prognosis and treatment strategies.* -
  • Using advanced proteomic analysis (LC-MS/MS iTRAQ), researchers identified 48 proteins that are differentially expressed between non-LNM and LNM CRC samples, revealing specific protein markers pertinent to cancer progression.* -
  • Two key proteins, chromogranin-A (CHGA) and UCHL1, were found to influence cancer cell behavior, such as migration and invasiveness, and their inactivation affected various pathways crucial for CRC development.*
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Background And Aim: Morbid obesity is associated with poorer postoperative outcomes in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. We aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes after robotic versus conventional laparoscopic CRC resection in morbidly obese patients.

Methods: This population-based, retrospective study extracted data from the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample during 2005-2018.

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Background: Chronic radiation proctitis (CRP) may develop in patients within months to years after undergoing pelvic radiotherapy. Numerous treatment modalities are available to achieve hemostasis in CRP, but the optimal treatment remains controversial. We report our clinical experience and long-term outcomes using radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with CRP.

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This study investigated whether melatonin (Mel) would promote cisplatin to suppress the proliferation and growth of bladder cancer (BC) cells by inhibiting cellular prion protein (PrP)-mediated cell stress and cell proliferation signaling. An immunohistochemical staining of tissue arrays from BC patients demonstrated that the PrP expression was significantly upregulated from stage I to III BC ( < 0.0001).

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Terrestrial plants emit volatiles into the atmosphere to attract both pollinators and the enemies of herbivores, for defense. Phalaenopsis bellina is a scented orchid species in which the main scent components are monoterpenes, including linalool and geraniol, and their derivatives. Here, we investigated whether ABC transporters are involved in floral scent emission.

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Containing the largest number of species, the orchid family provides not only materials for studying plant evolution and environmental adaptation, but economically and culturally important ornamental plants for human society. Previously, we collected genome and transcriptome information of Dendrobium catenatum, Phalaenopsis equestris, and Apostasia shenzhenica which belong to two different subfamilies of Orchidaceae, and developed user-friendly tools to explore the orchid genetic sequences in the OrchidBase 4.0.

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Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a worldwide pandemic and complex disorder associated with colorectal cancer (CRC). This study aims to identify the influence of number of MetS components on CRC incidence and mortality, using a national, longitudinal dataset of hospital care in Taiwan.

Methods: Patient data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2001 to 2008 were extracted.

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  • A study was done to see how often patients had problems after a special surgery for hemorrhoids using LigaSure devices, compared to an older method called Ferguson's.
  • They found that 5% of the patients had delayed bleeding after surgery, and men were more likely to experience this issue.
  • As the surgeon gained more experience over time, the chance of delayed bleeding went down, eventually becoming similar to the older surgery method.
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  • Phalaenopsis orchids, particularly P. equestris and P. aphrodite, are key contributors to orchid breeding, but genetic markers for floral traits are underutilized.
  • A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on 117 offspring of a cross between these two species, identifying over 113,000 SNPs through advanced genotyping techniques.
  • The study found that size traits in flowers were negatively correlated with color traits and identified candidate genes associated with color through the mapping of quantitative trait loci on specific chromosomes.
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Background: Phlebosclerotic colitis (PC) is a rare form of nonthrombotic colonic ischemia. This retrospective study analyzed the clinical findings and temporal CT changes in 29 PC patients with long-term follow-up.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients with characteristic CT features of PC collected between 1997 and 2020 were stratified into the acute abdomen group (AA-group) (n = 10), chronic-progressive group (CP-group) (n = 14) and chronic-stable group (CS-group) (n = 5).

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  • Recent advances in therapeutic options for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) have complicated treatment decision-making despite improvements from oncology guidelines.
  • A consensus paper was developed over three years with expert discussions to fill gaps in international guidelines, focusing on real-world practices in Taiwan for better mCRC management.
  • The resulting recommendations include criteria for patient treatment plans based on fitness for treatment, molecular characteristics, and specific patient profiles, enhancing the approach to mCRC care in Taiwan.
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Purpose: Obesity is an independent risk factor for worse outcomes in various surgical settings. Whether obesity is a prognostic factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) is inconclusive. This study aimed to determine the impact of obesity on short-term postoperative outcomes in CRC patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery.

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