Publications by authors named "Hsiang-Chuan Sha"

Ceramic aerogels are promising high-temperature thermal insulation materials due to their outstanding thermal stability and oxidation resistance. However, restricted by nanoparticle-assembled network structures, conventional ceramic aerogels commonly suffer from inherent brittleness, volume shrinkage, and structural collapse at high temperatures. Here, to overcome such obstacles, 3D ultralight and highly porous carbon tube foams (CTFs) were designed and synthesized as the carbonaceous precursors, where melamine foams were used as the sacrificial templates to form the hollow and thin-wall network structures in the CTFs (density: ∼4.

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Background: Our previous study have demonstrated chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) induced cardiomyocyte apoptosis and cardiac dysfunction. However, the molecular mechanisms are complicated and varied. In this study, we first investigated the CaMKIIγ expression and signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of cardiomyocyte apoptosis after CIH.

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Background: The results of empirical trials with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) for management of gastro-oesophageal reflux-induced chronic cough (GERC) have resulted in considerable controversy, and the mechanism of PPI refractoriness remains unclear. Our study aims to identify the predictors of PPI refractoriness of GERC in a retrospective clinical study.

Methods: In total, 128 GERC patients were enrolled between March 2018 and October 2022.

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Background: Diprosopus is one of the rarest anomalies. It typically manifests as bilateral alterations and often involves anomalies within the cranial structures. In this report, we present a case of a fetus with diprosopus diagnosed prenatally.

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Background: Pleuronectiformes, also known as flatfish, are important model and economic animals. However, a comprehensive genome survey of their important organelles, mitochondria, has been limited. Therefore, we aim to analyze the genomic structure, codon preference, nucleotide diversity, selective pressure and repeat sequences, as well as reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship using the mitochondrial genomes of 111 flatfish species.

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This paper introduces a novel approach for identifying dynamic triadic transformation processes, applied to five networks: three undirected and two directed. Our method significantly enhances the prediction accuracy of network ties. While balance theory offers insights into evolving patterns of triadic structures, its effects on overall network dynamics remain underexplored.

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Rationale: Congenital ectropion uveae (CEU) is a rare, nonprogressive anomaly characterized by the proliferation of the iris pigment epithelium on the anterior surface of the iris, often associated with glaucoma. Due to its rarity and complexity, standardized glaucoma surgical management is limited. To our knowledge, the application of glaucoma drainage devices in CEU is rarely documented.

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Enriching the structural diversity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) is of great importance in developing functional porous materials with specific properties. New MOF structures can be accessed through the rational design of organic linkers with diverse geometric conformations, and their structural complexity can be enhanced by choosing linkers with reduced symmetry. Herein, a series of Zr-based MOFs with unprecedented topologies were developed through a linker desymmetrization and conformation engineering approach.

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Purpose: The albumin to fibrinogen ratio (AFR), a biomarker associated with inflammatory, nutritional, and coagulation status, and the CALLY index, a biomarker combining C-reactive protein, albumin, and lymphocyte count, have been suggested to correlate with prognosis in a variety of diseases in previous studies; however, studies of these two markers in ulcerative colitis (UC) are lacking. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical significance of AFR and CALLY index in UC.

Methods: The study included 109 UC patients and 126 healthy controls.

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Background: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a significant global public health concern because of its association with various malignancies and autoimmune diseases. Over 90% of the global population is chronically infected with EBV, impacting numerous cancer-related cases annually. However, none of the effective prophylactic vaccines against EBV is approved at present.

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The increasing preference for plant-based proteins over animal-derived equivalents has intensified research into alternative protein sources, with oats emerging as a noteworthy specialty crop due to their rich array of functional and bioactive components. Despite the growing interest, research into oat proteins remains in its early stages, particularly in understanding the structure-function relationship and modification strategies within food systems. Designing novel food products using oat protein presents both opportunities and challenges; the compact quaternary structure and high thermal stability of oat globulin limit its functionality in diverse applications.

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Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) comprise a promising viral vector for therapeutic gene delivery to treat disease. However, the current manufacturing capability of rAAVs must be improved to meet commercial demand. Previously published omics studies indicate that rAAV production through transient transfection triggers antiviral responses and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses in the host cell.

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Rationale & Objective: In the general population, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) has been found to be associated with cardiovascular risk, but this relationship has not been well studied among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study seeked to evaluate the association between neighborhood SES and cardiovascular outcomes in a CKD cohort.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort.

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To investigate the effect of 1α,25(OH)D on hepatic stellate cells and the mechanism of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway.LX2 cells were treated with TGF-β1 and different concentrations of 1α,25(OH)D. Cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK8 assay to determine the optimal concentration of 1α,25(OH)D activity.

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Background: Although previous studies have investigated the risk factors for rotator cuff syndrome (RCS), there remains controversy due to uncontrolled and uncertain confounding factors in their analyses.

Purpose: To perform Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis using single-nucleotide polymorphisms to investigate the causal relationship between RCS and 4 risk factors: type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), high blood pressure (HBP), body mass index (BMI), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C).

Study Design: Descriptive epidemiology study.

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Microglia are progressively activated by inflammation and exhibit phagocytic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Lipid-droplet-accumulating microglia were identified in the aging mouse and human brain; however, little is known about the formation and role of lipid droplets in microglial neuroinflammation of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report a striking buildup of lipid droplets accumulation in microglia in the 3xTg mouse brain.

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Hypochlorous acid (HClO/ClO) is a common ROS that exhibits elevated activity levels in cancer cells. In this study, an ClO-triggered TADF probe, PTZ-MNI, was designed based on a naphthalimide core. PTZ-MNI self-assemble in aqueous environments, exhibiting significantly enhanced fluorescence that demonstrated typical aggregation-induced delayed fluorescence (AIDF) characteristics.

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To clarify the effect of heating rate on the thermal decomposition process of 1,3,5-triamino-2,4,6-trinitrobenzene (TATB), this study employs molecular dynamic simulations to investigate the thermal decomposition of TATB at heating rates of 20, 40, 60, and 80 K/ps. The initial temperature is uniformly set to 300 K, while the final temperature is set to 3000 K. Results indicate that within the temperature range of 300-3000 K, the thermal decomposition rate of TATB decreases with increasing heating rate, whereas the initial decomposition temperature of TATB increases, consistent with the experimental pattern.

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Background: Existing cardiovascular risk prediction models still have room for improvement in patients with type 2 diabetes who represent a high-risk population. This study evaluated whether adding metabolomic biomarkers could enhance the 10-year prediction of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in these patients.

Methods: Data from 10,257 to 1,039 patients with type 2 diabetes from the UK Biobank (UKB) and the German ESTHER cohort, respectively, were used for model derivation, internal and external validation.

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Background: Most patients with prostate cancer inevitably progress to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), at which stage chemotherapeutics like docetaxel become the first-line treatment. However, chemotherapy resistance typically develops after an initial period of therapeutic efficacy. Increasing evidence indicates that cancer stem cells confer chemotherapy resistance via exosomes.

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This study aims to investigate the physiological changes in growth and metabolic response mechanisms of highland barley under different concentrations of cadmium. To achieve this, cadmium stress was applied to green barley at levels of 20, 40, and 80 mg/L. The results revealed that, under Cd(II) stress, the chlorophyll content and photosynthesis in leaves of highland barley seedlings were inhibited to some extent.

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The diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms present in the gut microbiota may affect host health. There are evidences to support the role of gut microbiota as a key player in reproductive development. Unfortunately, the relationship between reproductive disorders caused by aging and gut microbiota remains largely unknown.

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Purpose: RING Finger 187 (RNF187) has recently emerged as a potential contributor to tumorigenesis. However, a comprehensive pan-cancer analysis of RNF187 in human tumors has not been undertaken until now.

Methods: Our study aims to investigate RNF187 expression across 33 different types of human tumors, utilizing data from the TCGA and GTEx databases.

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Introduction: Painter first described painful periarticular soft-tissue calcium deposits in 1907. Further research has led to a variety of nomenclature, including calcareous tendinitis, pseudopodagra, and rheumatism. This report details the journey of a patient with acute calcific periarthritis (ACP) and explores issues concerning diagnosis, management, and provides possible preventative strategies.

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