Publications by authors named "Yachu Chang"
Article Synopsis
- Distal radius fractures are common in older adults and often occur with ulnar styloid fractures, leading to concerns over treatment effectiveness, particularly regarding the risk of joint instability.
- A study analyzed 96 patients aged 80 and older with these fractures and found that those who underwent surgical intervention (ORIF) had significantly better functional scores after 12 months compared to those who received conservative treatment.
- The study concluded that surgical intervention improves wrist function in very old patients with distal radius fractures and accompanying ulnar styloid fractures, with treatment choice being a significant predictor of recovery outcomes.
Article Synopsis
- Innovative methods for isolating proteins linked to DNA replication have revealed insights into how DNA replication forks stall.
- A technique called iPOND2-DRIPPER enhances the retrieval and quantification of replication proteins, increasing their levels by up to 300 times compared to standard controls.
- This approach also allows for the direct observation of ubiquitination events and the recruitment of DNA repair factors when replication is stalled, highlighting interactions with nuclear structures.
Article Synopsis
- The study explored the effects of a probiotic strain, BC198, and its heat-killed version on colitis caused by dextran sulfate sodium, focusing on their ability to improve gut health.
- Both forms of BC198 improved gut barrier function and reduced harmful immune responses, but only the live strain effectively alleviated colitis symptoms and prevented colon damage.
- At the molecular level, live BC198 worked by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cells while promoting beneficial anti-inflammatory responses, showcasing its superior effectiveness compared to the heat-killed form.
Article Synopsis
- Eukaryotic genome stability relies on various molecular processes, including the action of STUbLs (SUMO-targeted E3 ligases) that support DNA repair and replication.
- This study investigates the role of the human STUbL RNF4 in cancer cells lacking MCM10, highlighting its importance in preventing G-phase accumulation and promoting DNA synthesis under replication stress.
- Findings indicate that RNF4 and MCM10 function differently in humans compared to yeast, with RNF4 helping to avoid severe DNA under-replication when MCM10 is deficient, ultimately ensuring cell viability.
Article Synopsis
- - The study presents a cost-effective chemical-genetic screening platform that focuses on DNA damage response by using a custom sgRNA library targeting 1011 genes.
- - It demonstrated that the new approach successfully identified chemical-genetic interactions (CGIs) that matched expected outcomes, and achieved a signal-to-noise ratio similar to traditional genome-wide screens.
- - Additionally, the time-resolved screening revealed a previously unidentified pathway for repairing DNA damage caused by camptothecin, providing valuable insights while using significantly fewer resources.
Article Synopsis
- Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) can effectively treat cancer but may cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), including diabetes linked to ICI therapy (ICI-DM), prompting this study to assess its clinical features and pancreatic volume changes.
- The research involved a review of over 2800 patients treated with ICIs, identifying ten who developed new-onset diabetes, primarily linked to nivolumab and characterized by low C-peptide levels and a high incidence of diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Results showed significant pancreatic atrophy in these patients, with a median volume decrease of about 20% after ICI-DM diagnosis, indicating a need for monitoring pancreatic health in patients receiving ICI treatments.*
Article Synopsis
- * Mutations preventing K164 ubiquitination disrupt normal DNA replication and lead to increased replication stress, especially when paired with the DNA polymerase inhibitor aphidicolin.
- * The study highlights that impaired FANCD2 activity in response to K164 mutations reduces its ability to associate with chromatin, thereby hindering the mitotic DNA synthesis process, which is essential to prevent under-replicated DNA.
Article Synopsis
- - DNA replication is regulated by post-translational modifications like ubiquitination and SUMOylation, with RNF4 being a key player in this process through its role in repairing DNA damage.
- - Research using CRISPR/Cas9 revealed that certain mutant cells rely on RNF4 for survival, showing that triple knockout cells struggle with DNA replication and have unstable genomes.
- - The study found that blocking proteasomal activity with bortezomib decreased available ubiquitin, which impaired a critical cellular checkpoint, resulting in increased cell death and highlighting the importance of RNF4 and USP7 in maintaining genomic stability.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the link between exposure to airborne heavy metals, specifically arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead, and the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a large cohort of over 168,000 live births in Taichung between 2004 and 2011.
- A positive correlation was found between mercury exposure and increased ASD risk, particularly noted at 9 months post-birth, with heightened risk during specific postnatal weeks for low birth weight infants.
- The findings suggest that exposure to certain heavy metals, especially mercury, during critical developmental periods may significantly impact ASD incidence, particularly in infants with low birth weight.
Article Synopsis
- - This study examined the effectiveness of existing wound classification systems (Wagner, Texas, PEDIS, WIfI) in predicting treatment outcomes for patients with limb-threatening diabetic foot ulcers.
- - Out of 1548 patients studied, 9.9% underwent major amputations, and 2.5% died, with significant findings highlighting the importance of factors like comorbid cardiac issues and serum levels of C-reactive protein and albumin for prognosis.
- - The Wagner and Texas classifications were found to be valid for predicting outcomes, with specific predictors varying between patients with and without dialysis, indicating the complexity of managing this condition.
Article Synopsis
- - This study investigates how maternal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) affects the risk of congenital heart defects, focusing on critical time periods before and during pregnancy.
- - Researchers analyzed data from over 500,000 participants using advanced modeling techniques to measure PM levels and their relation to heart defects, finding significant effects during specific weeks both before and after conception.
- - Results indicate that higher PM exposure, especially in low socioeconomic groups, is linked to increased rates of congenital heart defects, highlighting the importance of minimizing air pollution during preconception.
Transactive response DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43) is known to mediate neurodegeneration associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). The exact mechanism by which TDP-43 exerts toxicity in the brains, spinal cord, and lower motor neurons of affected patients remains unclear. In a novel model, we report gain-of-function phenotypes due to misexpression of insect codon-optimized version of human wild-type TDP-43 (CO-TDP-43) using both the binary GAL4/ system and direct promoter fusion constructs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrenatal and postnatal exposure to PM and the risk of tic disorders.
Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- Tic disorders are common neurodevelopmental issues in children, and the study explores whether exposure to particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and infancy affects their risk of developing these disorders.
- A significant birth cohort study in Taiwan found that higher exposure to PM2.5 is linked with increased rates of tic disorders, particularly between 6-52 weeks after birth, with specific increases in risk noted for Tourette's disorder.
- The researchers utilized advanced statistical models to analyze data from over 300,000 births and concluded that exposure to PM2.5 poses a risk, prompting the need for further research in this area.
Pooled lentiviral CRISPR-Cas9 screens are utilized for assessing the differential sensitivity or resistance of many single-gene knockouts to a compound. Here, we present a scalable approach for high-throughput compound screening by utilizing a small custom library. We describe steps to perform a proof-of-principle chemical screen in non-transformed hTERT RPE-1 TP53 cells with higher coverage and greater timepoint resolution compared to genome-wide screens.
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- * These memristors feature impressive specifications, including ultralow operating voltages, long retention times, fast switching speeds, and the capability to store multilevel data, making them suitable for advanced applications.
- * Their successful implementation in stateful logic functions and high accuracy in tasks like handwritten digit classification highlight their potential for integration in next-gen electronics, moving beyond traditional architectures.
Article Synopsis
- - A study examined how exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy and early childhood affects the risk of developing attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), analyzing data from over 425,000 births in Taiwan from 2004 to 2015.
- - Results showed that children exposed to PM levels above 16 μg/m during the first trimester and from ages 1-3 had significantly higher hazard ratios (HR) for ADHD, with HR values ranging from 1.26 to 1.87 based on exposure levels.
- - The findings suggest that pregnant women should avoid PM exposure above 16 μg/m to lower the risk of ADHD in their children, and emphasize the need for improved air
Article Synopsis
- Microtubules play a critical role in regulating various cellular functions, but traditional methods to study them are slow and insufficient for understanding specific microtubule types.
- The study introduces a new technique using chemo and optogenetics to quickly disassemble targeted microtubule subtypes, allowing for real-time observation of their effects on cellular processes.
- Findings reveal that rapid microtubule disruption affects vesicular trafficking, organelle organization, mitochondrial dynamics, and cell rigidity, while preventing cell division without inducing cell death during interphase.
Although studies have revealed that ambient particulate matter (PM) has detrimental effects on the ocular surface, there have been limited reports detailing the effect of ambient PM on the posterior segment of the eye. A large-scale longitudinal cohort study evaluating the association between fine PM, especially PM2.5, and the retina could elucidate the risk of ambient pollutants for retinal diseases.
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- Group A Streptococcus (GAS) is a serious human pathogen linked to severe infections like necrotizing fasciitis and toxic shock syndrome, with high mortality rates despite antibiotic treatment.
- The compound AR-12 has shown potential in reducing GAS growth significantly and killing the bacteria within two hours by damaging their nucleic acids and proteins, as well as impacting their structure.
- AR-12, particularly in combination with gentamicin, demonstrated enhanced antibacterial effects in both lab studies and animal models, suggesting it could be an innovative treatment approach for invasive GAS infections.
Article Synopsis
- Group A Streptococcus (GAS) infection leads to severe diseases, including necrotizing fasciitis, and is associated with a cytokine storm.
- The study revealed that the IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway plays a protective role during GAS infection, as mice deficient in this pathway had increased mortality, worse skin damage, and higher bacterial counts.
- Additionally, the absence of the IL-33/ST2 axis resulted in a reduced number of infiltrating immune cells, particularly neutrophils, and heightened inflammatory cytokine levels, suggesting that this pathway is crucial for enhancing innate immunity against GAS.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the link between nuclear size and cancer, highlighting that abnormalities in nuclear size are associated with malignant transformation, though the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.
- - Researchers explore the role of VCP (valosin-containing protein) in Drosophila, demonstrating that its disruption causes progressive increases in nuclear size due to the accumulation of MDC1, a protein involved in DNA damage response.
- - Findings suggest that the accumulation of MDC1 stabilizes the p53A protein, which interferes with the normal processes that remove excess nuclear content, ultimately leading to enlarged nuclei in cells expressing TER94.
Article Synopsis
- Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-targeted E3 ubiquitin ligases (STUbLs) are enzymes that add ubiquitin to proteins that have been modified by SUMO, linking the processes of SUMOylation and ubiquitination in cells.
- STUbLs play essential roles in various cell cycle events, such as DNA repair, replication, and mitosis, and can respond to stress from DNA damage.
- They often function in specific locations within the cell, like the nuclear envelope, to help correctly reposition damaged DNA or stalled replication processes, thereby supporting genome stability.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates how exposure to fine particulate matter (PM) during pregnancy and early infancy affects the development of allergic rhinitis (AR) in children, aiming to outline critical vulnerable periods to mitigate risks.
- - An analysis of data from a large cohort of 140,911 infants in Taichung, Taiwan revealed that around 33.55% developed AR, typically diagnosed around age 3; increased PM exposure during late pregnancy to the first year of life correlated significantly with higher AR risk.
- - Results indicate that both prenatal and postnatal PM exposure contributes to AR development, with the most vulnerable periods identified as late gestation and the first year after birth, suggesting a need for further research to reinforce these findings.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to evaluate the biocompatibility and hemocompatibility of thin film metallic glass (TFMG) coatings on hypodermic needles for injections using mouse and rabbit models.
- Histological analysis showed that TFMG-coated needles caused 33% less endothelial damage in the veins compared to bare needles after puncture.
- The results indicate that TFMG coatings can enhance clinical outcomes by reducing tissue injury and improving compatibility with biological systems.
Background & Problems: Poor sleep quality during hospitalization may lead to post-hospital symptoms and increase readmission rates and mortality. Patients in our intensive care unit (ICU) reported low mean scores on the Richards-Campbell Sleep Questionnaire (RCSQ) during their third and fifth days of hospitalization (49.7 mm and 51.
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