Consumption of a Taiwanese cafeteria diet induces metabolic disorders and fecal flora changes in obese rats.

Objectives: Among diet-induced obesity animal models, the cafeteria diet, which contains human junk food and processed foods, is a popular experimental animal diets in Western countries. Consumption of a cafeteria diet can lead to the development of obesity and non-alcoholic liver disease in as soon as 2 mo, which more accurately reflects human eating patterns. The aim of this study was to establish a Taiwanese cafeteria diet and compare it with a traditional lard-based, 60% high-fat diet in a 12-wk animal model.

Trend of HPV Molecular Epidemiology in the Post-Vaccine Era: A 10-Year Study.

Cervical cancer, a major health concern among women worldwide, is closely linked to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. This study explores the evolving landscape of HPV molecular epidemiology in Taiwan over a decade (2010-2020), where prophylactic HPV vaccination has been implemented since 2007. Analyzing data from 40,561 vaginal swab samples, with 42.

A CRISPR Screen Identifies the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Rfwd2 as a Negative Regulator of Glucose Uptake in Brown Adipocytes.

Brown adipose tissue activation increases energy expenditure and has been shown to improve glucose tolerance, making it a promising target for the treatment of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Brown adipocytes differentiate into cells with multilocular lipid droplets, which can efficiently absorb and oxidize glucose; however, the mechanisms regulating these processes are not completely understood. We conducted a genome-wide loss-of-function screen using a CRISPR-based approach to identify genes that promote or inhibit adipogenesis and glucose uptake in brown adipocytes.

The Applications and Pitfalls of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography-Based Synthetic Computed Tomography for Adaptive Evaluation in Pencil-Beam Scanning Proton Therapy.

Purpose: The study evaluates the efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based synthetic CTs (sCT) as a potential alternative to verification CT (vCT) for enhanced treatment monitoring and early adaptation in proton therapy.

Methods: Seven common treatment sites were studied. Two sets of sCT per case were generated: direct-deformed (DD) sCT and image-correction (IC) sCT.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy through Inhibiting Stemness in Glioblastoma.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and deadliest primary brain tumor in adults. Despite the advances in GBM treatment, outcomes remain poor, with a 2-year survival rate of less than 5%. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is an intermittent, high-concentration, short-term oxygen therapy used to increase cellular oxygen content.

Predictors for the effectiveness of 75 mg risankizumab in treating psoriasis-A real-word evidence from a 52-week retrospective study.

In the registration trial of risankizumab for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis in Japan, similar Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) responses were observed for 75 mg or 150 mg risankizumab at most time points up to 52 weeks, except for PASI 100 at week 16. The use of 75 mg risankizumab offers an attractive option considering the high cost of risankizumab. However, it is unknown whether patients with mild-to-moderate psoriasis respond similarly, and the efficacy data of non-Japanese patients is also lacking.

Focusing of surface plasmon polaritons propagating at the SiO/Ag interface with 2-level and 4-level Fresnel phase zone pad structures.

We propose and demonstrate dielectric Fresnel phase zone pad (FPZP) structures for focusing surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) propagating at the SiO/Ag interfaces. We exploited up-conversion fluorescence microscopy to characterize the SPP focusing. We first report on the SPP focusing with 2-level FPZP structures that introduced a π-phase shift in the SPP wavefront between adjacent zones.

Methanol Extracts from DC. var. Kitam. and Their Active Components Reduce Intracellular Oxidative Stress in .

DC. var. Kitam.

Multiphasic Coacervates Assembled by Hydrogen Bonding and Hydrophobic Interactions.

Coacervation has emerged as a prevalent mechanism to compartmentalize biomolecules in living cells. Synthetic coacervates help in understanding the assembly process and mimic the functions of biological coacervates as simplified artificial systems. Though the molecular mechanism and mesoscopic properties of coacervates formed from charged coacervates have been well investigated, the details of the assembly and stabilization of nonionic coacervates remain largely unknown.

Emergent radiotherapy for spinal cord compression/impingement-a narrative review.

Background And Objective: Malignant epidural spinal cord compression (MESCC), often presenting with back pain and motor/sensory deficits, is associated with poor survival, particularly when there is loss of ambulation. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the literature and discuss appropriate workup and management of MESCC, specifically in the emergent setting.

Methods: A PubMed search was conducted on "spinal cord compression" and "radiation therapy.

Microalgae and nano-cellulose composite produced via a co-culturing strategy for ammonia removal from the aqueous phase.

This study addresses the pressing need for sustainable bioremediation solutions to combat increasing pollution challenges in alignment with sustainability development goals. The research focuses on developing a co-culture approach involving microalgae and Komagataeibacter europaeus BCRC 14148 bacterium to create a biocomposite for efficient ammonia removal. Nanocellulose, produced by the bacterium, serves as a substrate for microalgae attachment.

Validity, reliability, and cross-validation of a new questionnaire developed using the Theory of Planned Behavior: The Dating Violence Bystander Help-giving Intention Questionnaire (DVBHIQ).

The present study aimed to develop and psychometrically test a scale by using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) comprising two types of measurement (direct and belief-based [indirect]) to assess bystander help-giving intention to victims of dating violence among youth. A two-phase, mixed-method design was adopted. The primary source of the samples was five universities, each in the northern, central, southern, eastern, and outer islands regions of Taiwan.

Valvulogenesis of a living, innervated pulmonary root induced by an acellular scaffold.

Heart valve disease is a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide with no effective medical therapy and no ideal valve substitute emulating the extremely sophisticated functions of a living heart valve. These functions influence survival and quality of life. This has stimulated extensive attempts at tissue engineering "living" heart valves.

Machine learning framework for extracting micro-viscoelastic and micro-structural properties of compressed oral solid dosage forms.

A compressed pharmaceutical oral solid dosage (OSD) form is a strongly micro-viscoelastic material composite arranged as a network of agglomerated particles due to its constituent powders and their bonding and fractural mechanical properties. An OSD product's Critical Quality Attributes, such as disintegration, drug release (dissolution) profile, and structural strength ("hardness"), are influenced by its micro-scale properties. Ultrasonic evaluation is direct, non-destructive, rapid, and cost-effective.

Increased risk of recurrence and disease-specific death following delayed postoperative radiation for Merkel cell carcinoma.

Background: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is often treated with surgery and postoperative radiation therapy (PORT). The optimal time to initiate PORT (Time-to-PORT [ttPORT]) is unknown.

Purpose: We assessed if delays in ttPORT were associated with inferior outcomes.

Fusion crystallization reveals the behavior of both the 1TEL crystallization chaperone and the TNK1 UBA domain.

Human thirty-eight-negative kinase-1 (TNK1) is implicated in cancer progression. The TNK1 ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domain binds polyubiquitin and plays a regulatory role in TNK1 activity and stability. No experimentally determined molecular structure of this unusual UBA domain is available.

TMEM135 links peroxisomes to the regulation of brown fat mitochondrial fission and energy homeostasis.

Mitochondrial morphology, which is controlled by mitochondrial fission and fusion, is an important regulator of the thermogenic capacity of brown adipocytes. Adipose-specific peroxisome deficiency impairs thermogenesis by inhibiting cold-induced mitochondrial fission due to decreased mitochondrial membrane content of the peroxisome-derived lipids called plasmalogens. Here, we identify TMEM135 as a critical mediator of the peroxisomal regulation of mitochondrial fission and thermogenesis.

Hybrid Learning Models for IMU-Based HAR with Feature Analysis and Data Correction.

This paper proposes a novel approach to tackle the human activity recognition (HAR) problem. Four classes of body movement datasets, namely stand-up, sit-down, run, and walk, are applied to perform HAR. Instead of using vision-based solutions, we address the HAR challenge by implementing a real-time HAR system architecture with a wearable inertial measurement unit (IMU) sensor, which aims to achieve networked sensing and data sampling of human activity, data pre-processing and feature analysis, data generation and correction, and activity classification using hybrid learning models.

Does Media Choice Matter When Evaluating the Performance of Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Acetate Succinate-Based Amorphous Solid Dispersions?

Hydroxypropyl methylcellulose acetate succinate (HPMCAS) is a weakly acidic polymer that is widely used in the formulation of amorphous solid dispersions (ASDs). While the pH-dependent solubility of HPMCAS is widely recognized, the role of other solution properties, including buffer capacity, is less well understood in the context of ASD dissolution. The goal of this study was to elucidate the rate-limiting steps for drug and HPMCAS release from ASDs formulated with two poorly water soluble model drugs, indomethacin and indomethacin methyl ester.

Dasatinib Plus Quercetin Alleviates Choroid Neovascularization by Reducing the Cellular Senescence Burden in the RPE-Choroid.

Purpose: Wet AMD (wAMD) is associated with cellular senescence. However, senescent cell-targeted therapies for wAMD have rarely been comprehensively studied. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of senolytic agents on choroidal neovascularization (CNV).

NIR-activated quercetin-based nanogels embedded with CuS nanoclusters for the treatment of drug-resistant biofilms and accelerated chronic wound healing.

We have developed multifunctional nanogels with antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, facilitating rapid wound healing. To prepare the multifunctional nanogels, we utilized quercetin (Qu) and a mild carbonization process to form carbonized nanogels (CNGs). These CNGs possess excellent antioxidative and bacterial targeting properties.

Increasing the bulk of the 1TEL-target linker and retaining the 10×His tag in a 1TEL-CMG2-vWa construct improves crystal order and diffraction limits.

TELSAM-fusion crystallization has the potential to become a revolutionary tool for the facile crystallization of proteins. TELSAM fusion can increase the crystallization rate and enable crystallization at low protein concentrations, in some cases with minimal crystal contacts [Nawarathnage et al. (2022), Open Biol.

Shared decision making with Oncologists and Palliative care specialists (SOP) model help advanced pancreatic cancer patients reaching goal concordant care: A prospective cohort study.

Background: Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at a late stage with a poor prognosis due to insidious symptoms and lack of evidence-based screening in general population. Palliative care's acceptance in Asian cultures is hindered by misconceptions and ineffective communication about management that improve quality of life other than cancer directed treatment. Our study aimed to determine the effect of the Shared decision-making with Oncologists and Palliative care specialists (SOP) model developed from the traditional shared decision-making (SDM) model on the palliative care acceptance rate and medical resource utilization.

[The Influence of Confinement Location on Maternal Psychological and Role Adaptation: A Six-Month Follow-Up Study].

Background: Approximately 70% of postpartum women in Taiwan choose postpartum care institutions for their postpartum confinement. However, few studies have explored the follow-up relationship between confinement location and, respectively, maternal psychological and role adaptation.

Purpose: To explore the differences in psychology and maternal role adaptation between postpartum women in two different confinement locations and to analyze the predictors of maternal confidence and maternal competence at six-months postpartum.