Publications by authors named "Lai N"

Objective: Hemodynamic factors are thought to play important roles in the pathogenesis, progression, and rupture of cerebral aneurysms. Previous hemodynamic studies have been based on comparisons between post-ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. Nevertheless, changes of aneurysm morphology after rupture render these results unreliable.

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The motor features of Parkinson's disease (PD) result from the loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra with autophagy dysfunction being closely linked to this disease. A PD-causing familial mutation in VPS35 (D620N) has been reported to inhibit autophagy. In order to identify signaling pathways responsible for this autophagy defect, we performed an unbiased screen using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) of wild-type or VPS35 D620N-expressing retinoic acid-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells.

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During CO flooding, serious gas channeling occurs in ultra-low permeability reservoirs due to the high mobility of CO. The chief end of this work was to research the application of responsive nanoparticles for mobility control to enhance oil recovery. Responsive nanoparticles were developed based on the modification of nano-silica (SiO) by 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (KH540) via the Eschweiler-Clark reaction.

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We developed a label-free, real-time, and highly sensitive nucleic acid biosensor based on fiber optic particle plasmon resonance (FOPPR). The biosensor employs a single-strand deoxyoligonucleotides (ssDNA) probe, conjugated to immobilized gold nanoparticles on the core surface of an optical fiber. We explore the steric effects on hybridization affinity and limit of detection (LOD), by using different ssDNA probe designs and surface chemistries, including diluent molecules of different lengths in mixed self-assembled monolayers, ssDNA probes of different oligonucleotide lengths, ssDNA probes in different orientations to accommodate target oligonucleotides with a hybridization region located unevenly in the strand.

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Mechano-chemical treatment has been recognized to be a promising technology for the immobilization of heavy metals (HMs) in contaminated soils without the use of additional reagents. Despite this, very few studies aiming to investigate the applicability of this technology at full scale have been published so far. In this study, a quantitative approach was developed to provide process design information to scale-up from laboratory- into pilot-scale mechano-chemical reactors for immobilizing heavy metals in contaminated mining soil.

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Selective modification of the N-terminus of peptides and proteins is a promising strategy for single site modification methods. Here we report N-terminal selective modification of peptides and proteins by using 2-ethynylbenzaldehydes (2-EBA) for the production of well-defined bioconjugates. After reaction screening with a series of 2-EBA, excellent N-terminal selectivity is achieved by the reaction in slightly acidic phosphate-buffered saline using 2-EBA with electron-donating substituents.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Thalassaemia is a genetic blood disorder that causes anaemia and can require frequent blood transfusions, leading to iron overload, which negatively impacts hormone production and potentially results in short stature due to growth hormone deficiency.
  • - The review examines the benefits and safety of growth hormone therapy in managing short stature related to thalassaemia, focusing on randomised controlled trials for evidence.
  • - A single trial in Turkey involving 20 children with severe thalassaemia assessed the effects of growth hormone therapy, but the review indicates limited evidence available on its overall effectiveness.
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Grounded in a cultural and contextual perspective, the current study examined the lived experiences and the recovery pathways of three Taiwanese women diagnosed with various subtypes of anorexia nervosa, at varying stages of their recovery. Specifically, using a multiple-case qualitative method, this study explored the complex, dynamic interactions of sociocultural factors and forces (i.e.

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Background: The utilization of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) has gained popularity and acceptance worldwide. Increasing use of CHM either as a stand-alone or an adjunctive treatment for cancers has given rise to increasing concern on potential herbal-drug reactions. Possible combinatory effects are important to be explored in evaluating the rationality of integrating CHM and chemotherapy in clinical practice.

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Article Synopsis
  • Magnesium deficiency in Citrus leaves leads to visible issues like enlargement, cracking, and lignification mainly in the lower leaves, while upper leaves remain unaffected.
  • Analysis shows that lower leaves with magnesium deficiency have lower concentrations of sugars, starch, and cellulose, but higher levels of lignin compared to their magnesium-sufficient counterparts.
  • Proteomic studies revealed significant differences in protein profiles between deficient and sufficient leaves, with factors such as increased lignin production linked to decreased cellulose and starch, alongside the upregulation of proteins involved in lignin synthesis and cell wall metabolism.
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Transgender women are at higher risk of HIV infection, however, there is a lack of information about HIV infection and related factors among transgender women in Vietnam. From February 2018 to June 2018, 456 transgender women were recruited in the study using Respondent-Driven Sampling technique. Participants completed the computer-based questionnaire and were tested for HIV serostatus.

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The applications of dielectrophoretic (DEP) techniques for the manipulation of cells in a label-free fashion within microfluidic systems continue to grow. However, a limited number of methods exist for making highly sensitive separations that can isolate subtle phenotypic differences within a population of cells. This paper explores efforts to leverage that most compelling aspect of DEP-an actuation force that depends on particle electrical properties-in the background of phenotypic variations in cell size.

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Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients appear to report a higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). While Chinese herbal medicine (CHMs) is proven to lower COPD risk, the scientific evidence regarding its effect in relation to COPD onset among them is limited. This longitudinal cohort study aimed to determine the relationship between CHMs use and the COPD risk in RA patients.

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Dynamic controlling the nanoscale presentation of synergistic ligands to stem cells by biomimetic single-chain materials can provide critical insights to understand the molecular crosstalk underlying cells and their extracellular matrix. Here, a stimuli-responsive single-chain macromolecular nanoregulator with conformational dynamics is fabricated based on an advanced scale-up single polymeric chain nanogel (SCNG). Such a carefully designed SCNG is capable of mediating a triggered copresentation of the master and cryptic ligands in a single molecule to elicit the synergistic crosstalk between different intracellular signaling pathways, thereby considerably boosting the bioactivity of the presented ligands.

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A distinct bioenergetic impairment of heart mitochondrial subpopulations in diabetic cardiomyopathy is associated with obesity; however, many type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients with high-risk for cardiovascular disease are not obese. In the absence of obesity, it is unclear whether bioenergetic function in the subpopulations of mitochondria is affected in heart with T2DM. To address this issue, a rat model of non-obese T2DM was used to study heart mitochondrial energy metabolism, measuring bioenergetics and enzyme activities of the electron transport chain (ETC).

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Background: Research findings based on patient-important outcomes (PIOs) provide more useful conclusions than those that are based on surrogate outcomes. It is unclear to what extent PIOs are represented in neonatal randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Objectives: We determined the proportion of PIOs in neonatal RCTs included in Cochrane Neonatal reviews.

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To improve CO adsorption performance of nanoparticle absorbents, a novel tertiary amine functionalized nano-SiO (NS-NR) was synthesized based on the 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (KH540) modified nano-SiO (NS-NH) via methylation. The chemical structure and performances of the NS-NR were characterized through a series of experiments, which revealed that NS-NR can react with CO in water and nanofluid with low viscosity revealed better CO capture. The CO capture mechanism of NS-NR was studied by kinetic models.

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Quantum dot (QD) coupling in nanophotonics has been widely studied for various potential applications in quantum technologies. Micro-machining has also attracted substantial research interest due to its capacity to use miniature robotic tools to make precise controlled movements. In this work, we combine fluorescent QDs and magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) to realize multifunctional microrobotic structures and demonstrate the manipulation of a coupled single-photon source (SPS) in 3D space via an external magnetic field.

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A distinct population of Foxp3CD4 regulatory T (Treg) cells promotes repair of acutely or chronically injured skeletal muscle. The accumulation of these cells depends critically on interleukin (IL)-33 produced by local mesenchymal stromal cells (mSCs). An intriguing physical association among muscle nerves, IL-33 mSCs, and Tregs has been reported, and invites a deeper exploration of this cell triumvirate.

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Background: Inflammation is a potential crucial factor in the pathogenesis of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in the regulation of diverse aspects of neuronal dysfunction. The therapeutic potential of miRNAs has been demonstrated in several CNS disorders and is thought to involve modulation of neuroinflammation.

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To investigate the incidence and risk factors of hepatitis B virus (HBV) reactivation in HBV surface antigen (HBsAg)/ HBV core antibody (HBcAb) patients who underwent rituximab (RTX) therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). From January 2000 through December 2017, a total of 134 RA patients with various HBV serostatuses who received RTX at Dalin Tzu Chi Hospital were screened. Finally, 50 HBsAg/HBcAb patients were enrolled in this retrospective study.

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Type 1 diabetes affects 20 million patients worldwide. Insulin is the primary and commonly the sole therapy for type 1 diabetes. However, only a minority of patients attain the targeted glucose control and reduced adverse events.

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Warfarin care bundles (e.g. genotype-guided warfarin dosing, patient's self-testing [PST] or patient's self-management [PSM] and left atrial appendage closure) are based on the concept of combining several interventions to improve anticoagulation care.

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Background: The study compared the predictive outcomes of artificial neural network, support vector machine and random forest on the occurrence of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods: The clinical and genomic data of patients treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs at Taipei Medical University-Wanfang Hospital were used as training sets, and those at Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital served as test sets. Features were selected through a univariate risk factor analysis and literature evaluation.

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Background: Parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP) is widely expressed in a variety of normal fetal and adult tissues.

Aim Of Work: Review of these normal physiologic functions of PTHrP in each of these tissues.

Method: Performed literature search on pubmed on articles related to PTHrP and physiologic roles.

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