Polysaccharides from Fu brick tea ameliorate obesity by modulating gut microbiota and gut microbiota-related short chain fatty acid and amino acid metabolism.

Fu brick tea (FBT) is a traditional tea manufactured by solid-state fermentation of tea leaves (Camellia sinensis). Although anti-obesity effects have been reported for FBT, the associated role of FBT polysaccharides (PSs) and the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. In this study, we found that FBTPSs inhibited obesity, hyperlipidemia, and inflammation; improved intestinal barrier function; and alleviated gut microbiota dysbiosis in high-fat diet-fed rats.

Analysis of segmentation of lung parenchyma based on deep learning methods.

Precise segmentation of lung parenchyma is essential for effective analysis of the lung. Due to the obvious contrast and large regional area compared to other tissues in the chest, lung tissue is less difficult to segment. Special attention to details of lung segmentation is also needed.

Characteristics and related factors of emergency department visits, readmission, and hospital transfers of inpatients under a DRG-based payment system: A nationwide cohort study.

Objectives: Taiwan has implemented the Diagnosis Related Groups (DRGs) since 2010, and the quality of care under the DRG-Based Payment System is concerned. This study aimed to examine the characteristics, related factors, and time distribution of emergency department (ED) visits, readmission, and hospital transfers of inpatients under the DRG-Based Payment System for each Major Diagnostic Category (MDC).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) from 2012 to 2013 in Taiwan.

Tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies.

Purpose: Data from in vitro and animal studies support the preventive effect of tea (Camellia sinensis) against colorectal cancer. Further, many epidemiologic studies evaluated the association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk, but the results were inconsistent. We conducted a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies to systematically assess the association between tea consumption and colorectal cancer risk.

Vaccination of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma patients with tumor lysate-pulsed dendritic cells: a clinical trial.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common and rapidly progressing malignancy. Current treatment options for advanced HCC are limited. This clinical study of dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy for HCC enrolled 31 patients with advanced HCC.

Age distribution for T cell reactivity to vaccinia virus in a healthy population.

The potential for bioterrorism involving smallpox has led to a debate about the durability of protective immunity against smallpox from vaccination. By assessing the T cell reactivity to vaccinia virus in a healthy population, we show that subjects who were vaccinated within the past 3 decades and who have a visible vaccination scar had remarkable T cell reactivity. However, person who were vaccinated within the past 3 decades but who do not have a scar and those who were vaccinated >4 decades ago had responses as low as those in unvaccinated subjects.