Publications by authors named "Wei Chun Chang"

Covalent modification of proteins at specific, predetermined sites is essential for advancing biological and biopharmaceutical applications. Site-selective labeling techniques for protein modification allow us to effectively track biological function, intracellular dynamics, and localization. Despite numerous reports on modifying target proteins with functional chemical probes, unique organic reactions that achieve site-selective integration without compromising native functional properties remain a significant challenge.

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Lipid reprogramming in carcinoma is reported to have a role in carcinogenesis, prognosis and therapy response. The lipid reprogramming could be contributed by either autonomous or nonautonomous resources. Since the nonautonomous lipid resources contributed by lipoproteins and their receptors have been reported in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), the impact of autonomous lipid metabolites was unknown.

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Introduction: Self-efficacy (SE), defined as an individual's belief in their ability to complete a task, is linked to top-down attentional control, influencing motor performance in sports. Although the behavioral effects of SE are well-documented, there is a lack of research on the mechanisms through which SE affects sports performance. Our research aims to elucidate the neurophysiological mechanisms that underlie the impact of self-efficacy on sports performance.

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Osteoporosis is a prevalent chronic disease worldwide, particularly affecting the aging population. The gold standard diagnostic tool for osteoporosis is Dual-energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DXA). However, the expensive cost of the DXA machine and the need for skilled professionals to operate it restrict its accessibility to the general public.

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Small molecule compounds targeting multiple kinases involved in neoangiogenesis have shown survival benefits in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nonetheless, despite the beneficial effects of multikinase inhibitors (MKIs), a lack of boosting adjuvant limits their objective response rate. Lipid conjugates have been used to improve delivery efficacy or pharmaceutical benefits for decades.

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Rationale: Cilostazol, an anti-platelet phosphodiesterase-3 inhibitor used for the treatment of intermittent claudication, is known for its pleiotropic effects on platelets, endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. However, how cilostazol impacts the endocrine system and the injury-induced inflammatory processes remains unclear.

Methods: We used the zebrafish, a simple transparent model that demonstrates rapid development and a strong regenerative ability, to test whether cilostazol influences heart rate, steroidogenesis, and the temporal and dosage effects of cilostazol on innate immune cells during tissue damage and repair.

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Background: There are limited reports on the treatment of complex calcified lesions using rotational atherectomy (RA) in octogenarians, particularly in high-risk patients.

Objective: To evaluate procedural and clinical outcomes of RA in octogenarians.

Methods: Consecutive RA patients from 2010 to 2018 were selected from our catheterization laboratory database, stratified into two groups (≥ or < 80 years old), and analyzed.

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Peripheral artery disease (PAD) imposes a heavy burden of major adverse cardiovascular events that are associated with considerable mortality and morbidity, and major adverse limb events (e.g., thrombectomy, revascularization, amputation) that can substantially impact patients' daily functioning and quality of life.

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Background: Despite advances being made in techniques and devices, certain chronic total occlusion (CTO) lesions remain uncrossable or undilatable. Rotational atherectomy (RA) is usually necessary for such lesions to achieve successful revascularization.

Methods: Information regarding consecutive patients who underwent coronary RA was retrieved from the catheterization laboratory database.

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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most fatal types of solid tumors, associated with a high prevalence of cachexia (~80%). PDAC-derived cachexia (PDAC-CC) is a systemic disease involving the complex interplay between the tumor and multiple organs. The endocrine organ-like tumor (EOLT) hypothesis may explain the systemic crosstalk underlying the deleterious homeostatic shifts that occur in PDAC-CC.

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Multicellular tumor spheroids and tumoroids are considered ideal in vitro models that reflect the features of the tumor microenvironment. Biomimetic components resembling the extracellular matrix form scaffolds to provide structure to 3-dimensional (3D) culture systems, supporting the growth of both spheroids and tumoroids. Although Matrigel has long been used to support 3D culture systems, batch variations, component complexity, and the use of components derived from tumors are complicating factors.

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Objective: To investigate the outcomes of definitive external-beam radiation therapy (EBRT) plus image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) unsuitable for surgery.

Methods: A total of 50 patients with inoperable EC were included. The patients received EBRT in a median dose of 45 Gy to the pelvis over 5 weeks.

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Background: CYP2C19 loss-of-function (LOF) alleles reduce the effectiveness of clopidogrel and are associated with high rates of clinical events in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and stenting in Northeast Asians. However, the prevalence and influence of CYP2C19 LOF alleles in Southeast Asians remain unclear.

Objectives: This study aims to retrospectively investigate the prevalence of CYP2C19 LOF alleles and clinical outcomes in East Asian patients taking clopidogrel and undergoing PCI.

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: The study assessed the effectiveness of a fracture liaison service (FLS) after 1 year of implementation in improving the outcomes of hip fracture surgery in older adult patients at Taipei Municipal Wanfang Hospital. : The Wanfang hospital's FLS program was implemented using a multipronged programmatic strategy. The aims were to encourage the screening and treatment of osteoporosis and sarcopenia, to take a stratified care approach for patients with a high risk of poor postoperative outcomes, and to offer home visits for the assessment of environmental hazards of falling, and to improve the patient's adherence to osteoporosis treatment.

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Introduction: Gastric cancer (GCa) is a malignancy with few effective treatments. Ursolic acid (UA), a bioactive triterpenoid enriched in Hedyotis diffusa Willd, known to suppress GCa without identified target. CYP19A1 (cytochrome P450 family 19A1; also known as aromatase, Ar) was correlated to GCa prognosis.

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Background: Rotational atherectomy (RA) is an indispensable tool used for calcified lesion preparation in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, use of RA in the setting of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is challenged with limited clinical data.

Objectives: This study aims to retrospectively investigate the procedural results, periprocedural complications, and clinical outcomes of RA in patients with AMI.

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Objective: Patients with advanced renal insufficiency are at high risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and complex lesions. Treating complex calcified lesion with rotational atherectomy (RA) in these patients might be associated with higher risks and poorer outcomes. This study was set to evaluate features and outcomes of RA in these patients.

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Background: Hip fractures are a major public health concern among elderly individuals. This study aimed to investigate potential perioperative factors that predict 1-year functional outcome, quality of life (QoL), care demands, and mortality in geriatric patients with a hip fracture.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled geriatric patients who had undergone hip fracture surgery in one medical center from December 2017 to December 2019.

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Although surgery has been proven to improve the long-term survival of older adults with hip fracture, in-hospital mortality directly resulting from repair of hip fracture is undesirable. This study aimed to identify potential prognostic factors that predict in-hospital mortality risk in elderly patients following hip fracture surgery. This case-control study comprehensively collected data from older adults with hip fracture admitted to a single medical centre.

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Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) remains the cornerstone for the management of opiate abuse. However, MMT can be associated with complex factors, including complications during the tolerance phase, the inability of some patients to maintain treatment effects during the tapering or abstinence phases, and the development of methadone dependence. Previous studies have revealed a sex disparity in MMT efficacy, showing that women undergoing MMT experiencing an increase in psychological symptoms compared with men and suggesting a link between disparate responses and the effects of estrogen signaling on methadone metabolism.

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Ovarian cancer (OVCA) arises from three cellular origins, namely surface epithelial cells, germ cells, and stromal cells. More than 85% of OVCAs are EOCs (epithelial ovarian carcinomas), which are the most lethal gynecological malignancies. Cancer stem/progenitor cells (CSPCs) are considered to be cancer promoters due to their capacity for unlimited self-renewal and drug resistance.

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The world's population is aging, and the prevalence of hip fracture is rising. Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for hip fracture and predicts functional recovery and survival following hip fracture surgery. This cross-sectional study identified the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in Taiwanese older patients with hip fracture and potential risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.

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Placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) and partial hydatidiform mole (PHM) placentas share similar characteristics, such as placental overgrowth and grape-like placental tissues. Distinguishing PMD from PHM is critical because the former can result in normal birth, while the latter diagnosis will lead to artificial abortion. Aneuploidy and altered dosage of imprinted gene expression are implicated in the pathogenesis of PHM and also some of the PMD cases.

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Objective: To evaluate efficacy of stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for pelvic boost irradiation in gynecological cancer patients with pelvic recurrence or with intact uterus unsuitable for brachytherapy.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 25 gynecological cancer patients who received SBRT boost for pelvic recurrence (salvage group, n = 14), or for local dose escalation instead of intracavitary brachytherapy due to unfavorable medical condition (definitive group, n = 11). The pelvis was irradiated with a median dose of 54 Gy in six weeks, and then SBRT was prescribed with a range of 10-25Gy in two to five fractions.

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Objective: Heavy calcifications remain formidable challenges to PCI, even for well-experienced operators. However, rotational atherectomy (RA)-induced coronary perforations (CPs) still could not be obviated. This study was to explore incidence and mechanisms of RA-induced CP in real-world practice.

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