Publications by authors named "MY Tsai"

Semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) possess exceptional photoelectronic properties, rendering them excellent channel materials for phototransistors and holding great promise for future optoelectronics. However, the attainment of high-performance photodetection has been impeded by challenges pertaining to electrical contact. To surmount this obstacle, we introduce a phototransistor architecture, in which the WS channel is connected with an alternating WS-WSe strip superstructure, strategically positioned alongside the source and drain contact regions.

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Background And Aims: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], high-sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hs-CRP), and total homocysteine (tHcy) are associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk. This study investigated the individual and joint associations of Lp(a), hs-CRP and tHcy with coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke.

Methods: This study was conducted in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) cohort (2000-2017) (CHD analytic = 6,676; stroke analytic = 6,674 men and women).

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Large-scale gene-environment interaction (GxE) discovery efforts often involve analytical compromises for the sake of data harmonization and statistical power. Refinement of exposures, covariates, outcomes, and population subsets may be helpful to establish often-elusive replication and evaluate potential clinical utility. Here, we used additional datasets, an expanded set of statistical models, and interrogation of lipoprotein metabolism via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based lipoprotein subfractions to refine a previously discovered GxE modifying the relationship between physical activity (PA) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C).

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Article Synopsis
  • - Sleep disturbances and insomnia are prevalent issues among breast cancer survivors, prompting investigation into Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) treatments like acupuncture and Qigong to improve sleep quality.
  • - A systematic review and network meta-analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 1011 participants was conducted to assess the efficacy of various TCM interventions for sleep improvement in this population.
  • - The findings indicated that TCM methods, particularly acupressure, significantly enhanced sleep quality, though further larger-scale clinical trials are needed for confirmation and to strengthen the evidence.
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Encapsulating peptide-stabilized gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) with thiolated hyaluronic acid (HA-SH) and selectively adding cysteine to the peptide sequence increased their photoluminescence. We found that peptide compositions with cysteine in the middle emitted the most. RCR-stabilized AuNCs can be purified using size-exclusion chromatography to characterize their optical characteristics, chemical composition, and possible structure.

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Aims: To assess the association of traditional risk factor burden and Life's Simple 7 (LS7) score with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) across Lp(a) levels.

Methods: There were 6,676 participants without clinical ASCVD from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis who underwent Lp(a) testing and were followed for incident ASCVD events (coronary heart disease and stroke). Low, intermediate, and elevated Lp(a) were defined as <30, 30-49, and >50 mg/dL, respectively.

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Background: Despite the paucity of scientific evidence, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is widely used for the prevention and treatment of chronic illness, holistic care, and counteracting the adverse effects of conventional therapies. This study aims to determine the prevalence of CAM use and its associated factors among patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) in Taiwan.

Methods: This quantitative study was conducted from August 2022 to July 2024 in the HD unit at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

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Background: Oxidized phospholipids (OxPLs) are carried by apolipoprotein B-100-containing lipoproteins (OxPL-apoB) including lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]). Both OxPL-apoB and Lp(a) have been associated with calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD).

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the associations between OxPL-apoB, Lp(a) and the prevalence, incidence, and progression of CAVD.

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Article Synopsis
  • Lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) is crucial for managing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, but it is underused by over 40% of eligible individuals in the U.S.
  • A study analyzed data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) to understand the demographics and health conditions influencing LLT usage between 2010-2012 and 2016-2018.
  • Findings revealed that Black participants were less likely to be on LLT, while higher body mass index (BMI) and the presence of coronary artery calcium (CAC) were strongly associated with LLT use, indicating healthcare disparities and the importance of CAC measurement.
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Background: Limitation declarations are commonly deemed essential to uphold intellectual humility for scientific research, but little has been reported about the limitation statements in published original research articles. This meta-research study aims to investigate the trends of limitation statements among three leading general medical journals in the US.

Methods: This cross-sectional study will compile a data set of full-length original research articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Journal of the American Medical Association, and Annals of Internal Medicine between 2002 and 2022.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study examined the effectiveness and safety of combining nivolumab with chemotherapy for treating advanced HER2-negative gastric cancer (GC).
  • A total of 27 patients participated, with a notable response rate of 55.6% and a disease control rate of 74.1%, especially in patients with a combined positive score (CPS) of 5 or higher.
  • The findings suggest that this treatment approach could be a new standard for first-line therapy in patients with advanced HER2-negative GC, while the majority experienced manageable side effects.
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The incidence of treatment failure due to multidrug-resistant pathogens elevated over the years; the rate is much higher than new antibiotic drug discovery. Therefore, bromophenol derivatives as potential antibacterial agents on and MRSA were explored in this research via integrating chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology to address significant knowledge gaps pertaining to the antibacterial activity of bromophenols based on their functional groups. Surprisingly, a simple molecule, 3-bromo-2,6-dihydroxyacetophenone (), exhibited good anti- activity and even MRSA, a drug-resistant strain.

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Article Synopsis
  • * We found 17 genetic loci associated with sleep duration impacting lipid levels, with 10 of them being newly identified and linked to sleep-related disturbances in lipid metabolism.
  • * The research points to potential drug targets that could lead to new treatments for lipid-related issues in individuals with sleep problems, highlighting the connection between sleep patterns and cardiovascular health.
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Background: The association between Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) and the risk of developing major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with dialysis hypotension is unclear and has not yet been investigated. This study aimed to determine whether CMH intervention could reduce the risk of MACEs in patients with dialysis hypotension.

Methods: The study data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database were analyzed to clarify this association.

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Reducing greenhouse gas emissions plays a crucial role in slowing down the rise of the global temperature. One of the viable options is to employ renewable energy sources such as alcohols that can be produced from biomass. Specifically, one of the most common alcohols is isopropanol (IPA).

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Background And Objectives: Nintedanib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, is integral in slowing pulmonary fibrosis progression in chronic fibrotic interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, the occurrence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) often limits its use, leading to treatment discontinuation, typically within 3-12 months. Discontinuation adversely affects patient outcomes.

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Background: Aortic valve calcification (AVC), Lp(a) [lipoprotein(a)], and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are associated with severe aortic stenosis (AS). We aimed to determine which of these risk factors were most strongly associated with the risk of incident severe AS.

Methods: A total of 6792 participants from the MESA study (Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis) had computed tomography-quantified AVC, Lp(a), and LDL-C values at MESA visit 1 (2000-2002).

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Background: We have shown that ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reduce risk for heart failure, regardless of ejection fraction status. Ventricular remodeling and reduced ventricular performance precede overt hear failure, however there is little insight into how PUFAs contribute to maladaptive signaling over time. PUFAs are agonists for regulatory activity at g-protein coupled receptors such as Ffar4, and downstream as substrates for monooxygenases (e.

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This study synthesized core/shell gold-platinum nanoparticles and characterized their colorimetric properties; ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy revealed that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited distinct colors from conventional gold nanoparticles. Furthermore, the nanoparticles were subjected to lateral flow assays using Protein A, and the results revealed that they outperformed conventional spherical gold nanoparticles in terms of color development. This improvement can be attributed to the distinct core/shell structures of our nanoparticles.

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Liver transplantation (LT) is frequently complicated by coagulopathy associated with end-stage liver disease, which is often multifactorial and associated with hemostatic disturbances affecting both the procoagulant and anticoagulant systems. This rebalanced coagulation system may lead to bleeding diathesis or increased clot formation. Conventional coagulation tests cannot reflect these complex changes because they can only illustrate deficiencies in the procoagulant system.

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Cofilin, a key actin-binding protein, orchestrates the dynamics of the actomyosin network through its actin-severing activity and by promoting the recycling of actin monomers. Recent experiments suggest that cofilin forms functionally distinct oligomers via thiol post-translational modifications (PTMs) that promote actin nucleation and assembly. Despite these advances, the structural conformations of cofilin oligomers that modulate actin activity remain elusive because there are combinatorial ways to oxidize thiols in cysteines to form disulfide bonds rapidly.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study investigates the impact of lipoprotein(a) (Lp[a]) on the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) using data from 27,756 participants across five major U.S. studies, with a follow-up period averaging 21.1 years.
  • - Results indicate that higher Lp(a) levels correlate with increased risk of ASCVD events, especially among individuals with diabetes, with adjusted hazard ratios showing significant risk elevation at higher Lp(a) percentiles.
  • - The findings highlight that elevated Lp(a) independently predicts various cardiovascular events, including heart attacks and strokes, reinforcing its role as a genetic risk factor for ASCVD in diverse populations.
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Background: Lung transplantation is one of the most common treatment options for patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. However, the choice between single and double lung transplantation for these patients remains a matter of debate. Therefore, we performed a systematic search of medical databases for studies on single lung transplantation, double lung transplantation, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

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