SCC-NET: segmentation of clinical cancer image for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) accounts for 90% of head and neck cancer. The majority of cases can be diagnosed and even treated with endoscopic examination and surgery. Deep learning models have been adopted for various medical endoscopy exams.

Development of a Deep Learning-Based Epiglottis Obstruction Ratio Calculation System.

Surgeons determine the treatment method for patients with epiglottis obstruction based on its severity, often by estimating the obstruction severity (using three obstruction degrees) from the examination of drug-induced sleep endoscopy images. However, the use of obstruction degrees is inadequate and fails to correspond to changes in respiratory airflow. Current artificial intelligence image technologies can effectively address this issue.

Comparison of a home sleep test with in-laboratory polysomnography in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Background: In-laboratory, polysomnography (PSG) is the gold standard for diagnosing obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). However, the long waiting list and sleeping at a hospital make patients hesitate to undergo the examination, thereby delaying diagnosis. During coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, sleep labs are almost closed, and the delay is worsening.

Micropatterned Fibrous Scaffold Produced by Using Template-Assisted Electrospinning Technique for Wound Healing Application.

This paper describes the fabrication of a structural scaffold consisting of both randomly oriented nanofibers and triangular prism patterns on the scaffold surface using a combination technique of electrospinning and collector templates. The polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibers were electrospun over a triangular prism pattern mold, which acted as a template. The deposited scaffold was removed from the template to produce a standalone structural scaffold of three-dimensional micropatterned nanofibers.

Cross-Sectional Study to Identify Potential Risk Factors for Eczema within the Common Household Environment in Taiwan.

Background: Much attention has been focused on environmental risk factors and their roles in eczema development. In this regard, the specific eczema risk factors in Taiwan were relatively unknown. As such, this study investigated the common indoor risk factors present in Taiwanese households.

Automatic Detection Method for Cancer Cell Nucleus Image Based on Deep-Learning Analysis and Color Layer Signature Analysis Algorithm.

Exploring strategies to treat cancer has always been an aim of medical researchers. One of the available strategies is to use targeted therapy drugs to make the chromosomes in cancer cells unstable such that cell death can be induced, and the elimination of highly proliferative cancer cells can be achieved. Studies have reported that the mitotic defects and micronuclei in cancer cells can be used as biomarkers to evaluate the instability of the chromosomes.

Development of Thermo-Responsive Polycaprolactone-Polydimethylsiloxane Shrinkable Nanofibre Mesh.

A thermally activated shape memory polymer based on the mixture of polycaprolactone (PCL) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was fabricated into the nanofibre mesh using the electrospinning process. The added percentages of the PDMS segment in the PCL-based polymer influenced the mechanical properties. Polycaprolactone serves as a switching segment to adjust the melting temperature of the shape memory electro-spun PCL-PDMS scaffolds to our body temperature at around 37 °C.

Sarcopenia results in poor survival rates in oral cavity cancer patients.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the impact or survival of low skeletal muscle mass (SMM) among patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) undergoing primary surgery.

Design: This study was a retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated at our referral centre from April 2005 to March 2014 were examined.

Highly efficient polyethylene glycol-functionalised gold nanorods for photothermal ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Gold nanorods (GNRs) with exceptional photothermal properties have held promising potential for application in the biomedical field. In this study, the authors achieved photothermal ablation by polyethylene glycol (PEG)-functionalised GNRs. Well-dispersed and uniform GNRs were produced through a seed-mediated growth method.

Log margin-to-thickness ratio improves disease-specific survival prediction in oral cancer: A single cancer centre database.

Objective: We examined whether dynamic margin criteria margin-to-thickness (MTR) ratio has superior predictive value compared with the resection margin or tumour thickness alone in the survival outcome in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).

Design: This is a retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Oral squamous cell carcinoma patients treated in Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital Cancer Center between January 2006 and December 2013.

Correlation of 18F-FDG uptake and thyroid cancer stem cells.

Background: 2-deoxy-2-[F]fluoro-D-glucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET) has the potential to detect various types of cancers, including thyroid cancer (TC), at a potentially curable stage. Increased uptake of F-FDG was observed in anaplastic and poorly differentiated thyroid cancer cells, and PET-positive tumors are more likely to be resistant to I treatment. As cancer stem cells (CSCs) possess a dedifferentiated phenotype and are resistant to many anticancer therapies, we hypothesized that the expression of CSC-related markers is correlated with the ability of tumor cells in TC to uptake FDG.

Correlation between Novel Potential Indoor Risk Factors and Frequency of Doctor's Visit for Respiratory Problem in Taiwan's Tropical Environment.

Background: With a global rising trend in prevalence of allergic diseases, more attention has been paid to investigation of environmental risk factors. Many risk factors have so far been identified. However, novel risk factors specific to Taiwanese environment and lifestyle were still relatively unknown.

The Interactive Roles of Lipopolysaccharides and dsRNA/Viruses on Respiratory Epithelial Cells and Dendritic Cells in Allergic Respiratory Disorders: The Hygiene Hypothesis.

The original hygiene hypothesis declares "more infections in early childhood protect against later atopy". According to the hygiene hypothesis, the increased incidence of allergic disorders in developed countries is explained by the decrease of infections. Epithelial cells and dendritic cells play key roles in bridging the innate and adaptive immune systems.

Targeted TPX2 increases chromosome missegregation and suppresses tumor cell growth in human prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is a complex disease that can be relatively harmless or extremely aggressive. Although androgen-deprivation therapy is a commonly used treatment for men with prostate cancer, the adverse effects can be detrimental to patient health and quality of life. Therefore, identifying new target genes for tumor growth will enable the development of novel therapeutic intervention.

Bacteriology of peritonsillar abscess: the changing trend and predisposing factors.

Introduction: Peritonsillar abscess is the most common deep neck infection. The infectious microorganism may be different according to clinical factors.

Objective: To identify the major causative pathogen of peritonsillar abscess and investigate the relationship between the causative pathogen, host clinical factors, and hospitalization duration.

Targeting TPX2 Suppresses the Tumorigenesis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Resulting in Arrested Mitotic Phase Progression and Increased Genomic Instability.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains one of the most difficult cancers to treat, with chemotherapies being relatively ineffective. Therefore, a better knowledge of molecular hepatocarcinogenesis will provide opportunities for designing targeted therapies. TPX2 (targeting protein for Xklp2) is overexpressed as a consequence of oncogenic alterations and is likely to alter the proper regulation of chromosome segregation in cancer cells.

A cross-sectional study into the correlation of common household risk factors and allergic rhinitis in Taiwan's tropical environment.

Objective: To discuss the effect of lesser-known potential risk factors, such as bedroom showers, on the prevalence of allergic rhinitis.

Method: A cross-sectional, population-based study was performed using both survey and fungal culturing in southern Taiwan. There were 998 participants enrolled in the survey, and 513 sets of fungal culture obtained.

Prognostic Performance of a New Staging Category to Improve Discrimination of Disease-Specific Survival in Nonmetastatic Oral Cancer.

Importance: Inflammatory status is associated with outcome in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Combining the preoperative neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and histopathologic features may provide clinicians with more exact information regarding the prognosis of OSCC.

Objective: To compare the prognostic performance of the routinely used pathologic TNM staging with a new staging category that incorporates the NLR and histopathologic features.

Lipopolysaccharide Attenuates Induction of Proallergic Cytokines, Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin, and Interleukin 33 in Respiratory Epithelial Cells Stimulated with PolyI:C and Human Parechovirus.

Epidemiological studies based on the "hygiene hypothesis" declare that the level of childhood exposure to environmental microbial products is inversely related to the incidence of allergic diseases in later life. Multiple types of immune cell-mediated immune regulation networks support the hygiene hypothesis. Epithelial cells are the first line of response to microbial products in the environment and bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems; however, their role in the hygiene hypothesis is unknown.

Initial Factors Influencing Duration of Hospital Stay in Adult Patients With Peritonsillar Abscess.

Objectives: To review cases of peritonsillar abscess and investigate the initial clinical factors that may influence the duration of hospitalization. To determine the predictive factors of prolonged hospital stay in adult patients with peritonsillar abscess.

Methods: Subjects were adults hospitalized with peritonsillar abscess.

Systemic delivery of modified mRNA encoding herpes simplex virus 1 thymidine kinase for targeted cancer gene therapy.

Failure of clinical trials of nonviral vector-mediated gene therapy arises primarily from either an insufficient transgene expression level or immunostimulation concerns caused by the genetic information carrier (e.g., bacteria-generated, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA)).

Effect of m-3m3FBS on Ca2+ handling and viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells.

The effect of 2,4,6-trimethyl-N-(meta-3-trifluoromethyl-phenyl)-benzenesulfonamide (m-3M3FBS), a presumed phospholipase C activator, on cytosolic free Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in OC2 human oral cancer cells is unclear. This study explored whether m-3M3FBS changed basal [Ca2+]i levels in suspended OC2 cells by using fura-2 as a Ca2+-sensitive fluorescent dye. M-3M3FBS at concentrations between 10-60 μM increased [Ca2+]i in a concentration-dependent manner.

The mechanism of sertraline-induced [Ca2+]i rise in human OC2 oral cancer cells.

Effect of sertraline, an antidepressant, on cytosolic free Ca(2+) levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) in human cancer cells is unclear. This study examined if sertraline altered basal [Ca(2+)](i) levels in suspended OC2 human oral cancer by using fura-2 as a Ca(2+)-sensitive fluorescent probe. At concentrations of 10-100 μM, sertraline induced a [Ca(2+)](i) rise in a concentration-dependent fashion.

Tamoxifen-induced [Ca2+]i rises and Ca2+-independent cell death in human oral cancer cells.

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of tamoxifen on cytosolic free Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](i)) and cell viability in OC2 human oral cancer cells. [Ca(2+)](i) and cell viability were measured by using the fluorescent dyes fura-2 and WST-1, respectively. Tamoxifen at concentrations above 2 microM increased [Ca(2+)](i) in a concentration-dependent manner.

EBV viral load in tumor tissue is an important prognostic indicator for nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

We retrospectively studied 19 cases of nasal NK/T-cell lymphoma for various potential prognostic factors and performed real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) viral load in tumor tissue. Patients with a low EBV viral load (<1 copy per cell) more frequently survived for more than 2 years compared with patients with a high EBV viral load (>/=1 copies/cell) (7/7 vs 3/9; P = .014; Fisher exact test).