Policy and Strategy for Hepatitis C Virus Elimination at the National Level: Experience in Taiwan.

The estimated prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.1% in Taiwan. Studies have shown iatrogenic behavior was the major transmission route.

What, Where, and How to Collect Real-World Data and Generate Real-World Evidence to Support Drug Reimbursement Decision-Making in Asia: A reflection Into the Past and A Way Forward.

Background: Globally, there is increasing interest in the use of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) to inform health technology assessment (HTA) and reimbursement decision-making. Using current practices and case studies shared by eleven health systems in Asia, a non-binding guidance that seeks to align practices for generating and using RWD/RWE for decision-making in Asia was developed by the World Data n Aia for Halth Technology Assessment in Reimbursement (REALISE) Working Group, addressing a current gap and needs among HTA users and generators.

Methods: The guidance document was developed over two face-to-face workshops, in addition to an online survey, a face-to-face interview and pragmatic search of literature.

[Arsenic speciation and valence].

As arsenic widely exists in nature and has been used in the pharmaceutical preparations, the traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) with arsenic include realgar(As_2S_2 or As_4S_4), orpiment(As_2S_3), and white arsenic(As_2O_3). Among the above representative medicine, the TCM compound formulas with realgar are utilized extensively. Just in Chinese Pharmacopoeia(2020 edition), there are 37 Chinese patent medicines including realgar.

[Monoterpenoids from Paeoniae Radix Rubra based on UPLC-Q-TOF-MS].

The ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) was used to conduct the qualitative analysis of the monoterpene chemical components from Paeoniae Radix Rubra. Gradient elution was performed on C_(18) HD(2.1 mm×100 mm, 2.

[Investigation of the chemical components of Ciwujia injection using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-electrostatic field orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry].

Ciwujia injection is commonly used to treat cerebrovascular and central nervous system diseases in clinical practice. It can significantly improve blood lipid levels and endothelial cell function in patients with acute cerebral infarction and promote the proliferation of neural stem cells in cerebral ischemic brain tissues. The injection has also been reported to have good curative effects on cerebrovascular diseases, such as hypertension and cerebral infarction.

UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of the herb composition of Tangshen formula and the in vivo pharmacokinetics of its metabolites in rat plasma.

Introduction: Tangshen formula (TSF) is a traditional Chinese medicine composed of seven medicinal herbs including Astragalus membranaceus, Rehmannia glutinosa Libosch, Citrus aurantium L., etc. which is used to treat diabetic nephropathy III, IV qi and yin deficiency and stasis syndrome.

Latent profile analysis of self-perceptions of ageing among Chinese community-dwelling older adults.

Background: Self-perceptions of ageing (SPA) is an important predictor for physical and mental health of older adults in successful ageing. SPA is mainly studied from negative or positive perspectives using variable-centred methodologies. The aim of the current study was to explore distinct profiles of SPA among Chinese community-dwelling older adults using a person-centred method and validate the SPA profiles by examining associations with psychological outcomes.

Synergistic Cu/Pd-catalyzed asymmetric allylation: a facile access to α-quaternary cysteine derivatives.

An efficient synthetic methodology to access biologically important and synthetically useful α-quaternary cysteine derivatives via asymmetric catalytic α-allylation of readily available 2-thiazoline-4-carboxylates was successfully developed through a synergistic Cu/Pd catalytic system. A wide array of α-quaternary cysteine derivatives were obtained in moderate to high yields with good to excellent enantioselectivities (45-98% yields and 69->99% ee). Gram-scale asymmetric allylation was performed to obtain high yields maintaining the enantioselectivity.

The micro-volume liquid focusing effect in Janus membrane and its biosensing application.

The micro-volume analysis and specific detection are both essential requirements in the field of chemical sensing and biological testing. Membrane prefiltration can be used to improve the selectivity and accuracy of detection. But for traditional porous membrane filtration, it is difficult to achieve the transmembrane transport of micro-volume liquid due to the influence of lateral diffusion on membrane surface.

New Insights into the Role of Oral Microbiota Dysbiosis in the Pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of chronic intestinal inflammatory disorders with a prolonged duration characterized by recurrent relapse and remission. The exact etiology of IBD remains poorly understood despite the identification of relevant risk factors, including individual genetic susceptibility, environmental triggers, and disruption of immune homeostasis. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota is believed to exacerbate the progression of IBD.

Evaluation of controlled attenuation parameter in assessing hepatic steatosis in patients with autoimmune liver diseases.

Background: Hepatic steatosis commonly occurs in some chronic liver diseases and may affect disease progression.

Aim: To investigate the performance of controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) for the diagnosis of hepatic steatosis in patients with autoimmune liver diseases (AILDs).

Methods: Patients who were suspected of having AILDs and underwent liver biopsy were consistently enrolled.

High-throughput sequencing provides insights into oral microbiota dysbiosis in association with inflammatory bowel disease.

Although the prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has been increasing worldwide, the etiology remains elusive. Investigating oral microbiota dysbiosis is essential to understanding IBD pathogenesis. Our study evaluated variations in salivary microbiota and identified potential associations with IBD.

Real-world data for health technology assessment for reimbursement decisions in Asia: current landscape and a way forward.

There is growing interest globally in using real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) for health technology assessment (HTA). Optimal collection, analysis, and use of RWD/RWE to inform HTA requires a conceptual framework to standardize processes and ensure consistency. However, such framework is currently lacking in Asia, a region that is likely to benefit from RWD/RWE for at least two reasons.

Stereodivergent Synthesis of α-Quaternary Serine and Cysteine Derivatives Containing Two Contiguous Stereogenic Centers via Synergistic Cu/Ir Catalysis.

A stereodivergent preparation of α-quaternary serine/cysteine derivatives incorporating two adjacent stereogenic centers has been developed through Cu/Ir-catalyzed asymmetric allylation of 2-oxazoline-4-carboxylates and 2-thiazoline-4-carboxylates. Tuning the electronic effect is the key to enhancing the reactivity of 2-oxazoline-4-carboxylates and suppressing the undesired β-elimination. The salient feature of this protocol is that all four stereoisomers of α-quaternary serine and cysteine derivatives could be achieved from the identical starting materials through pairwise combination of two distinct chiral catalysts.

Regulation of lipid-induced macrophage polarization through modulating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma activity affects hepatic lipid metabolism via a Toll-like receptor 4/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Background And Aim: Chronic inflammation links closely to insulin resistance and lipid metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Macrophage M1 activation plays an important role in the initiation and continuing of pro-inflammatory response of NAFLD. Our study was to investigate whether macrophage M1/M2 polarization switching would affect hepatic inflammation and lipid metabolism through modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPAR-γ) activity in vivo and in vitro.

Pd-Catalyzed Asymmetric Hydroalkylation of 1,3-Dienes: Access to Unnatural α-Amino Acid Derivatives Containing Vicinal Quaternary and Tertiary Stereogenic Centers.

Pd-phosphinooxazoline (Pd-PHOX)-catalyzed asymmetric hydroalkylation of 1,3-dienes with azlactones was successfully developed for the first time, affording various enantioenriched α-quaternary α-amino acid derivatives bearing contiguous quaternary and tertiary stereogenic centers in good yields with exclusive regioselectivity and excellent stereoselective control (up to 92% yield, >20:1 dr, and >99% ee). The scale-up catalytic asymmetric hydroalkylation was performed well without loss of reactivity and stereoselectivities, which exhibited great potential application. The synthetic utility of the current methodology was demonstrated through product transformations to access other biologically important compounds such as chiral β-amino alcohol and α-quaternary cyclic α-amino acid derivatives.

The clinicopathologic features and prognosis of esophageal neuroendocrine carcinomas: a single-center study of 53 resection cases.

Background: Esophageal neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) are exceedingly rare and poorly understood. The aims of the retrospective study were to delineate the clinicopathologic features and prognosis of patients with the disease.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study containing 53 patients of esophageal NECs in our center from 2002 through 2018.

Impact of a pharmacist-led education and follow-up service on anticoagulation control and safety outcomes at a tertiary hospital in China: a randomised controlled trial.

Objectives: This study was designed to evaluate the impact of a pharmacist-led anticoagulation service on international normalised ratio (INR) control and other outcomes among patients receiving warfarin therapy at a tertiary hospital in Zhuhai, China.

Methods: In this randomised controlled trial, adult patients who were newly initiated on warfarin with intended treatment duration of at least 3 months were recruited. Participants were randomly allocated to receive the pharmacist-led education and follow-up service (PEFS) or usual care (UC).

Synthesis and Electrochemical Properties of CuC₂O₄·H₂O and CuC₂O₄·H₂O/Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Pure CuC₂O₄·H₂O and CuC₂O₄·H₂O/carbon nanotubes (CNTs) composites are synthesized by a low-temperature hydrothermal process. The structure and morphology of the products are analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and Raman spectrum. The results demonstrate that the as-prepared CuC₂O₄·H₂O takes on a microsphere-like morphology, all CuC₂O₄·H₂O/CNTs nanocomposites are constructed by the intertwining of tabular CuC₂O₄·H₂O nanoparticles (NPs) and CNTs to form a tanglesome net.

Top-Down Strategy of Implantable Biosensor Using Adaptable, Porous Hollow Fibrous Membrane.

Fabrication of an outer membrane is crucial for an implantable biosensor to enhance the long-term stability and accuracy of sensors. Herein, an adaptable, controllable, porous outer membrane for an implantable biosensor was fabricated using a "top-down" method, allowing maximum retention of enzyme activity and fine control over membrane microstructure. Polysulfone hollow fibrous membranes with different pore sizes and porosities were used as a base membrane.

Bialternacins A-F, Aromatic Polyketide Dimers from an Endophytic Alternaria sp.

Six novel aromatic polyketide dimers, bialternacins A-F (1-6), were isolated from a plant endophytic Alternaria sp. The structures of compounds 1-6 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and electronic circular dichroism analysis. Compounds 1, 2, 5, and 6 were characterized as four pairs of racemic mixtures.

Serum Procalcitonin as a Potential Early Predictor of Short-Term Outcomes in Acute Severe Ulcerative Colitis.

Background: Delayed colectomy can be life-threatening for patients with acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC). However, few biomarkers can predict the outcomes of ASUC patients before treatment. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has been observed to be increased in ASUC patients.

Mucus protectors: Promising therapeutic strategies for inflammatory bowel disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a group of intestinal non-specific inflammatory diseases with unclear pathogenesis, characterized with the impaired intestinal mucosal barriers and the activated immune system. Mucus layer is the vital protector over the intestinal epithelia cells (IECs). Mucus layer with impaired function could not provide isolated protection for IECs and thus proteases and pathogens from the gut lumen attacked and damaged the epithelial layer.