Publications by authors named "Huan-Huan Chen"
Article Synopsis
- * A case study details the orthodontic treatment of a 21-year-old woman with maxillomandibular protrusion and impacted mandibular second molars, using the innovative Physiologic Anchorage Spee-wire System (PASS) for effective alignment and resolution of impaction.
- * The PASS technique proved to be a simple and efficient method for correcting dental issues, showing superiority over traditional wire appliances and minimizing discomfort during treatment while achieving a well-aligned dentition.
Purpose: So far, there is no gold standard to diagnosis dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON). Diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) has the potential to provide imaging biomarkers for the timely and accurate diagnosis of DON. This study aimed to explore the white matter (WM) alterations in thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) patients with and without DON using DKI with tract-based spatial statistics method.
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- The study investigates the effectiveness of dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI in evaluating thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) and how patients respond to glucocorticoid treatment.
- A total of 65 TAO patients were analyzed, with 41 classified as active and 24 as inactive, comparing various MRI parameters to assess disease activity and treatment responses.
- Findings show that certain MRI metrics, particularly TTP-mean and V-mean, are significant in determining active disease and treatment response, with the study achieving moderate to good diagnostic performance in identifying these factors.
Article Synopsis
- * Research involving immunohistochemistry and drug response tests showed a positive link between SIVA-1 levels and the effectiveness of DDP in treating GC, unlike with other drugs like 5-FU and adriamycin.
- * Overexpression of SIVA-1 alongside DDP treatment was found to enhance tumor suppression by increasing certain proteins (PCBP1) and reducing others (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL), suggesting SIVA-1 could be a marker
This research investigates the causal relationships among gut microbiota, inflammatory proteins, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), including crohn disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and identifies the role of inflammatory proteins as potential mediators. Our study analyzed gut microbiome data from 13,266 samples collected by the MiBioGen alliance, along with inflammatory protein data from recent research by Zhao et al, and genetic data on CD and UC from the International Inflammatory Bowel Disease Genetics Consortium (IIBDGC). We used Mendelian randomization (MR) to explore the associations, complemented by replication, meta-analysis, and multivariable MR techniques for enhanced accuracy and robustness.
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- The study aimed to assess how Dixon MRI-based quantitative measurements of extraocular muscles, intraorbital fat, and lacrimal glands can help in staging thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) in patients.* -
- A total of 200 TAO patients were divided into training and validation groups, with results showing that active TAO patients had higher signal intensity and water fraction values, but lower fat fraction values, compared to inactive patients.* -
- The research concluded that using a combination of specific MRI parameters enhances the ability to differentiate and stage active versus inactive TAO more effectively than using a single parameter alone.*
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how adding boron (B) affects citrus seedlings exposed to excessive copper (Cu) levels, specifically looking at its role in reducing oxidative damage in both leaves and roots after 24 weeks of treatment.
- - Results show that increased Cu levels led to significant increases in harmful compounds (like reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde), but B addition helped mitigate these effects and improved detoxification systems related to oxidative stress.
- - The findings support the idea that B reduces Cu-induced oxidative damage through different mechanisms in leaves and roots, suggesting that the interactions between Cu and B are crucial for protecting plant health.
Article Synopsis
- * Experiments show that overexpressing KCTD15 reduces CRC cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis, while its regulation is influenced by the FTO-YTHDF2 axis, which affects RNA stability.
- * KCTD15 enhances the stability of the tumor suppressor protein p53, likely through a mechanism involving histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), which contributes to its anti-cancer effects in CRC cells.
Article Synopsis
- This study examines how boron (B) supplementation affects the remodeling of plant cell walls (CW) in Citrus sinensis seedlings exposed to high levels of copper (Cu).
- The researchers found that adding B helped mitigate the harmful effects of Cu by lowering its concentrations in the plant's leaves and roots, thus promoting healthier growth.
- Techniques like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) were used to show that certain components of the cell walls (such as pectin and cellulose) can bind to Cu, reducing its toxic effects on the plants.
SIVA-1 has been shown to affect apoptotic processes in various different cell lines, and SIVA-1 significantly contributes to the decreased responsiveness of cancer cells to some chemotherapy agents. However, whether SIVA-1 has potential application in gastric cancer remains unknown. Therefore, the objective of this investigation was to clarify the distinct function of SIVA-1 in chemotherapeutic drug resistance within a living murine model with gastric malignancy, and initially elucidate the underlying mechanisms.
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- Dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) is a serious complication of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO), necessitating a better understanding of its mechanisms for timely diagnosis.
- This study compared the brain functional networks of 66 TAO patients (28 with DON and 38 without) using resting-state functional MRI, revealing significant differences in network properties between the two groups.
- Findings suggest that alterations in static and dynamic functional networks, especially in the orbitofrontal cortex and visual network, could serve as potential biomarkers for tracking the progression of TAO from non-DON to DON.
Article Synopsis
- This study assesses how well combined orbital MRI and diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) can diagnose dysthyroid optic neuropathy (DON) in patients with thyroid-related eye issues.
- Researchers analyzed data from 61 patients, finding that those with DON had distinct imaging characteristics compared to those without, such as higher apical muscle index and lower apparent diffusion coefficient of the optic nerve.
- The integrated approach of using both MRI and DKI showed the highest diagnostic accuracy, highlighting its potential to improve the diagnosis and treatment strategies for DON.*
Article Synopsis
- Researchers studied 'Xuegan' (Citrus sinensis) seedlings' response to manganese (Mn) in hydroponic conditions, finding that increased Mn supply decreased both Mn absorption and its translocation from roots to shoots.
- Without Mn, the seedlings increased the pH of the solution, but higher Mn levels reduced this alkalization and led to more secretion of root total phenolics, while pH dropped.
- Metabolomic analysis revealed that Mn-tolerant seedlings upregulated various phenolic and secondary metabolites, indicating a complex response mechanism to manage high Mn levels and maintain tolerance.
Increased brain iron in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy: a whole-brain analysis.
Front Endocrinol (Lausanne)
December 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to investigate iron deposition changes in the brains of patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) using a technique called quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM).
- A total of 48 TAO patients and 33 healthy controls underwent MRI scans, and it was found that TAO patients had higher QSM values in specific brain areas, which correlated with depression and cognitive assessment scores.
- The support vector machine analysis demonstrated that QSM values could effectively differentiate TAO patients from healthy individuals, indicating their potential as neuroimaging markers for the condition.
Article Synopsis
- Duodenal stump fistula (DSF) is a serious complication following radical gastrectomy for gastric cancer, prompting a study on innovative treatment options.* -
- The research analyzed 34 patients with DSF who either received traditional treatments or a new technique involving a modified sump drainage method through trocar puncture.* -
- Results showed that the new technique led to significantly better outcomes in terms of complications, healing rates, and hospital stays, although there was no change in abscess recurrence or mortality rates; further research is suggested.*
Structural and Functional Brain Changes After Glucocorticoid Therapy in Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
February 2024
Article Synopsis
- This study aimed to explore brain changes in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) before and after glucocorticoid treatment using advanced MRI techniques.
- Researchers compared MRI results from 32 TAO patients and 23 healthy controls, finding significant differences in brain regions related to vision and emotion, notably decreased gray matter volume in certain areas before therapy.
- Post-treatment, patients showed improvement in brain function and structure, indicating that glucocorticoids may help mitigate some brain deficits associated with TAO, while also highlighting the complex mechanisms of the disease.
Article Synopsis
- Boron (B) helps citrus plants deal with toxic levels of copper (Cu), but the exact mechanism is not well understood.
- In a study with 'Xuegan' citrus seedlings, researchers explored how B affected the secretion of low molecular weight compounds (LMWCs) from roots and their concentrations in roots and leaves while exposing them to control (0.5 µM) and high (350 µM) Cu levels.
- The results showed that while Cu-stress increased the release of certain LMWCs, B didn't enhance this release and even reduced malate secretion; however, B increased the concentrations of some LMWCs in Cu-stressed roots, indicating an internal detoxification process for mitigating Cu-toxicity
Article Synopsis
- - This study explores the relationship between gut microbes, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the effectiveness of treatments in lung cancer patients, distinguishing between those who respond positively and those who do not.
- - Findings show that non-responders have greater microbial diversity (α-diversity) but lower community structure diversity (β-diversity) compared to responders, with specific gut bacteria and higher SCFA levels linked to better treatment outcomes.
- - Isobutyric acid was found to limit cancer cell growth and movement while enhancing certain gene expressions, suggesting that gut microbiota and SCFAs could serve as potential therapeutic targets in lung cancer treatment.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates how brain activity and connectivity change in patients with thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI).
- It involved 47 TAO patients and 30 healthy controls, examining variations in brain activity's temporal patterns (dALFF) and the efficiency of communication between brain regions (dFC).
- Findings revealed decreased dALFF in specific areas related to vision and increased dALFF in regions linked to emotional and cognitive functions, with altered brain activity correlating with visual acuity and quality of life related to vision.
Article Synopsis
- The study focused on analyzing genetic subtypes of HIV and the rate of drug resistance in newly diagnosed HIV-infected men aged 50 or older in Guangxi from January to June 2020.
- Out of 615 participants, the majority were infected with the HIV subtypes CRF01_AE, CRF07_BC, and CRF08_BC, with a total of 22 patients showing resistance to at least one type of antiretroviral drug.
- The research found that pretreatment resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) was more common than to nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), indicating a generally low prevalence of drug resistance among this population
Article Synopsis
- - Fungi are important in ecosystems and their accurate identification is crucial, evolving from traditional morphological methods to modern techniques like PCR and DNA sequencing for better taxonomy and classification.
- - Challenges arise with "dark taxa," which lack distinct physical features, but tools like high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics help uncover new fungal lineages.
- - The paper emphasizes various advanced "omics" technologies (proteomics, transcriptomics, etc.) to deepen our understanding of fungi, their roles in food safety, medicine, and the potential to discover novel fungi from extreme environments.
Article Synopsis
- Chronic inflammation and low oxygen levels in diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) slow down healing by causing blood flow issues.
- A new hydrogel therapy introduces both nitric oxide and oxygen to the wound environment, which helps reduce inflammation and improve blood vessel formation.
- Tests show that this hydrogel speeds up healing processes in diabetic mice and enhances skin graft survival, suggesting it could be an effective treatment for diabetic wounds.
Article Synopsis
- The study examined how interactions between copper (Cu) and pH levels affect hormone levels and related metabolites in plant leaves and roots.
- Increased pH was found to reduce the harmful effects of Cu toxicity on these hormonal levels, while low pH worsened Cu toxicity impacts.
- Adjustments in hormone levels, including auxins and jasmonates, serve as adaptive strategies to manage Cu toxicity but can also lead to reduced plant growth due to stress responses.
Angiogenic signaling pathways and anti-angiogenic therapy for cancer.
Signal Transduct Target Ther
May 2023
Article Synopsis
- * Advances in research have identified key biomolecules involved in this process, leading to targeted anti-angiogenic therapies like monoclonal antibodies and tyrosine kinase inhibitors that focus on the VEGF pathway.
- * Despite their potential, these treatments face challenges such as side effects, drug resistance, and tumor recurrence, highlighting the need for further research and innovative strategies to enhance their effectiveness.
Article Synopsis
- * Histone deacetylases, specifically sirtuins (SIRT1-7), are highly expressed in kidney cells and are involved in the progression of renal disorders caused by these metabolic diseases.
- * The review explores how dysregulation of SIRTs affects kidney health by influencing oxidative stress, metabolism, inflammation, and apoptosis, suggesting their potential as biomarkers for early diagnosis and targets for treatment of kidney-related complications from metabolic diseases.