Publications by authors named "Meilan Chen"

Objective: To explore the characteristics of patients with multiple myeloma (MM) who have achieved long-term survival of over 10 years in the context where novel agents and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) serve as the primary therapeutic modalities.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 168 MM patients diagnosed and treated in our institution from January 2004 to January 2014. 44 patients with a survival period exceeding 10 years were categorized into the long-term survival group, while 124 patients with a survival period of less than 10 years were categorized into the non-long-term survival group.

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Background: Multiple myeloma (MM) is a common hematologic malignancy and immune dysfunction is a hallmark of the disease. It leads to an increased infection risk, which is still a major cause of mortality. The infection spectrum and characteristics have evolved with the introduction of novel agents.

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Background: We found that a subset of patients with monoclonal gammopathy exhibited hypercalcemia without apparent causes or clinical manifestations In a cohort of 289 monoclonal gammopathy patients, 2.4% presented with such atypical hypercalcemia, with one notable case exhibiting normal ionized calcium levels, suggesting the presence of pseudohypercalcemia.

Objective: The aim of this study is to elucidate the factors contributing to pseudohypercalcemia in monoclonal gammopathy and to develop a novel globulin-corrected calcium formula for clinical application.

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Purpose: Using clinical information and transcriptomic sequencing data from glioblastoma (GBM) patients in the TCGA database to perform gene-by-gene analysis that is aligned with individual patient characteristics and develop an optimal prognostic index of survival-related variables (OPISV) through iterative machine learning techniques to predict the prognosis of GBM patients.

Study Design: The TCGA dataset was utilized as the training dataset, while two GEO datasets served as independent validation cohorts. Initially, survival analysis (p < 0.

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The association of anosmia/ageusia with a positive severe respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test is well-established, suggesting these symptoms are reliable indicators of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. This study investigates the clinical characteristics and systemic inflammatory markers in hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Taiwan, focusing on those with anosmia/ageusia. We conducted a retrospective observational study on 231 hospitalized COVID-19 patients (alpha variant) from April to July 2021.

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The eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth, , are frequently utilized as alternative diets and have demonstrated promising outcomes when consumed by various insects. Nonetheless, the specific reasons for their effectiveness remain unclear. In our study, we assessed the developmental performance of the ladybird when fed eggs, alongside 12 factitious prey or artificial diets.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A concept analysis using Walker and Avant's method identified three key attributes of PTSD in veterans: intrusive memories, feelings of isolation, and negative thought patterns.
  • * Understanding PTSD in veterans is crucial for creating effective interventions to improve their mental health and overall life satisfaction.
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Transmembrane 9 superfamily proteins (TM9SFs) define a highly conserved protein family, each member of which is characterized by a variable extracellular domain and presumably nine transmembrane domains. Although previous studies have delineated the potential cytological roles of TM9SFs like autophagy and secretory pathway, their functions during development are largely unknown. To establish the basis for dissecting the functions of TM9SFs in vivo, we employed the open-source database, structure prediction, immunofluorescence and Western blot to describe the gene and protein expression patterns of TM9SFs in human and mouse.

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This research examines the association between blood pressure variability (BPV) and renal damage in a cohort of 129 primary aldosteronism (PA) patients, employing ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) for comparative analysis with individuals diagnosed with essential hypertension (EH). The study reveals that PA patients exhibited significantly elevated levels of cystatin C and urine microalbumin/creatinine ratio (UACR). Additionally, a higher prevalence of non-dipping blood pressure patterns in PA patients suggests an increased risk of circadian blood pressure regulation disturbances.

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Soil microbiome is a key evaluation index of soil health. Previous studies have shown that organic fertilizer from traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)residues can improve the yield and quality of cultivated traditional Chinese medicinal materials. However, there are few reports on the effects of organic fertilizer from TCM residues on soil microbiome.

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  • A new study investigates a more efficient and cost-effective method for mobilizing stem cells in multiple myeloma patients using high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-Cy) along with a single injection of pegylated G-CSF (PEG G-CSF) and on-demand plerixafor (PXF), rather than daily G-CSF injections.
  • The results show that the combination of HD-Cy and PEG G-CSF with or without PXF achieved significantly higher CD34 cell counts and a greater percentage of patients reached the optimal stem cell harvest compared to other treatment regimens.
  • Although the new method is a bit more expensive than some alternatives, it remains more economical than other combinations while showing fewer instances of complications
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High-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-Cy) (3 g/m) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a very effective regimen for peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization. Unfortunately, it is associated with an increased risk of neutropenic fever (NF). We analyzed the effect of NF on PBSC apheresis results and the efficacy of prophylactic antibiotics for the prevention of NF associated with HD-Cy plus G-CSF for PBSC mobilization in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (MM).

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The presence of transient abnormal protein banding (M-protein immune reconstitution) in serum immunofixation electrophoresis after autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation in patients with multiple myeloma has been reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of post-transplant M-protein immune reconstitution on the prognosis of patients with multiple myeloma. M-protein immune reconstitution was observed in 25.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Moutan Cortex (MC) residues, usually disposed of as waste, can be re-extracted for beneficial compounds and converted into organic fertilizer and animal feed, reducing environmental pollution.
  • - Analysis showed that MC residues contain lower levels of active chemicals compared to the original material, with key compounds reduced further after composting.
  • - The compost derived from MC residues demonstrated a significant increase in essential nutrients, indicating it can serve as a high-quality organic fertilizer ideal for cultivating Chinese medicinal herbs.
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Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness and safety of two different infusion durations of cyclophosphamide (CTX) plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for peripheral blood stem cell mobilization in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).

Methods: One hundred and fifty-six consecutive NDMM patients receiving CTX plus G-CSF mobilization and autologous stem cell transplantation during the period of September 2008 to May 2020 were selected for retrospective analysis. According to differences in prolonged infusion time of CTX, they were divided into a 24-h group (24-h continuous infusion) and a control group (4-6 h of infusion).

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Background: Older Chinese immigrants constitute the largest older Asian ethnic population in New Zealand. Aging in a foreign land can be complex, presenting increasing challenges for gerontology scholars, practitioners, and policy makers. Older Chinese immigrants are more susceptible to experiencing loneliness and social isolation compared to native older people, primarily due to language, transportation, and cultural barriers.

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Dendrites are specialized neuronal compartments that sense, integrate and transfer information in the neural network. Their development is tightly controlled and abnormal dendrite morphogenesis is strongly linked to neurological disorders. While dendritic morphology ranges from relatively simple to extremely complex for a specified neuron, either requires a functional secretory pathway to continually replenish proteins and lipids to meet dendritic growth demands.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of Butyrophilin-like protein 8 (BTNL8) expression in high-risk HPV (hrHPV) infection treated with photodynamic therapy.

Methods: A total of 93 patients with hrHPV infection were enrolled as research study subjects, along with 69 healthy women who served as controls. Serum samples were obtained from each participant, and BTNL8 levels were quantified.

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Background: Amyloid light chain (AL) amyloidosis is the most common systemic amyloidosis. The objective of this scoping review was to map the available literature on the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis in China.

Materials And Methods: The published academic papers related to the diagnosis of AL amyloidosis were screened from 1 January 2000 to 15 September 2021.

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Continuous monoculture of crops has resulted in reduced yields and quality, as well as soil deterioration. Although traditional Chinese medicine residues (TCMRs) are known to promote plant growth and soil health, few studies have investigated their effectiveness in continuous monoculture soils. Here, we studied the impact of chemical fertilizers (CF) and four TCMRs with antibacterial activities on the growth of (a widely used medicinal plant in China), accumulation of active ingredients in plants, and soil health under continuous monoculture conditions.

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Cinnamomum camphora is an important economic tree species in China. According to the type and content of main components in the volatile oil of leaf, C. camphora were divided into five chemotypes, including borneol-type, camphor-type, linalool-type, cineole-type, and nerolidol-type.

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Bunge (Danshen) is a traditional Chinese herb with significant medicinal value. The yield and quality of Danshen are greatly affected by climatic conditions, in particular high temperatures. Heat shock factors (Hsfs) play important regulatory roles in plant response to heat and other environmental stresses.

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Previous literature has suggested physical exercise may improve cognitive impairments and mitigate depressive symptoms. However, few studies examined the impact of resistance exercise intervention on cognition and depression in older Chinese Americans. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess the effects of resistance exercise training on cognitive performance and depressive symptoms among community-dwelling older Chinese Americans.

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Uveal melanoma (UM), the most frequent primary intraocular tumor in adults, has poor prognosis. High C-C motif chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18) has been detected in various tumors and is closely correlated with patients' clinicopathological characteristics. However, the essential role of CCL18 in UM remains unclear.

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