A synergistic effect of herb and acupuncture on the methamphetamine.

Background: Herbal medicine Ja-Geum-Jeong (JGJ) has been used for the treatment of detoxification in Eastern Asia. However, the mechanisms involved are not clearly defined. The purpose of the present study was to investigate if herb medication inhibits Methamphetamine (METH)'s reinforcing effect and also examined if a combination of herb medication and acupuncture produces a synergistic effect on METH.

CD206 modulates the role of M2 macrophages in the origin of metastatic tumors.

Tumor metastasis is a key factor affecting the life of patients with malignant tumors. For the past hundred years, scientists have focused on how to kill cancer cells and inhibit their metastasis , but few breakthroughs have been made. Here we hypothesized a novel mode for cancer metastasis.

Dignity and Related Factors in Patients with Cancer: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Purpose: Dignity is a basic human right that is related to psychological distress factors in patients with cancer such as depression and demoralization. Hence, the dignity issue is of great importance to healthcare professionals. The present study aimed to advise healthcare professionals regarding the related distress factors of dignity in patients with cancer by investigating its relationship with patients' demographics, disease characteristics, and psychological distress.

Clinical outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection for colorectal neoplasms: A single-center experience in Southern Taiwan.

Background And Aims: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) as an advanced endoscopic procedure can be considered for the removal of colorectal lesions with high suspicion of limited submucosal invasion or cannot be optimally removed by snare-based techniques. We aimed to analyze the clinical outcomes of ESD for colorectal neoplasms in our hospital.

Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 230 patients with 244 colorectal neoplasms who received ESD procedures from April 2012 to October 2020 at Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital.

Clinical Application of Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies Suffering from Sepsis.

Background: Sepsis remains a common but fatal complication among patients with immune suppression. We aimed to investigate the performance of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) compared with standard microbiological diagnostics in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Methods: We performed a prospective study from June 2019 to December 2019.

The Effectiveness of Dignity Therapy as Applied to End-of-Life Patients with Cancer in Taiwan: A Quasi-Experimental Study.

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of dignity therapy for end-of-life patients with cancer.

Methods: This study used a quasi-experimental study design with a nonrandomized controlled trial. Dignity therapy was used as an intervention in the experimental group, and general visit was used in the control group.

The Role of Non-Selective β-Blockers in Compensated Cirrhotic Patients without Major Complications.

: Non-selective β-blockers (NSBB) could prevent decompensation and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in cirrhotic patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH), but remained uncertain for compensated cirrhotic patients without major complications. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between propranolol users and non-users of a CC group without major complications. : We conducted this population-based cohort study by using the Taiwanese Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000.

Incidence and risk factors of colonoscopic post-polypectomy bleeding and perforation in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background And Aims: Colonoscopic polypectomy in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are at risks of post-polypectomy bleeding and perforation, but evidences are limited. This study aimed to determine the incident polypectomy complications among ESRD patients.

Methods: In the nationwide ESRD cohort, a propensity score matched case-control study design was conducted to assess risk associated with post-polypectomy bleeding and perforation using the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database from 1997 to 2013 for adults aged 40 years and older; 7011 ESRD and 19 118 non-ESRD patients met the study criteria.

The role of antibiotics in upper gastrointestinal bleeding among cirrhotic patients without major complications after endoscopic hemostasis.

Background And Aim: Antibiotic prophylaxis should be instituted for cirrhotic patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding (UGIB), but the benefit on compensated patients remains undetermined. We aimed to compare the clinical outcomes between cirrhotic patients without major complications with UGIB with and without antibiotic prophylaxis.

Methods: We conducted this population-based cohort study by using Taiwanese Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000, between 1997 to 2013), aged 18 years or older with a hospital discharge diagnosis of cirrhosis (n = 64,506), UGIB (n = 7,784), and endoscopic therapy (n = 2,292).

Risk of Recurrent Peptic Ulcer Disease in Patients Receiving Cumulative Defined Daily Dose of Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs.

The purpose of this population-based case-control study was to clarify the impact of cumulative dosage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on recurrent peptic ulcers among chronic users after eradication. We analyzed data of 203,407 adult peptic ulcer disease (PUD) patients from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan entered between 1997 and 2013. After matching for age/gender frequencies and the length of follow-up time in a ratio of 1:1, the matched case-control groups comprised 1150 patients with recurrent PUD and 1150 patients without recurrent PUD within 3 years of follow-up.

The p38-like MAP kinase modulated HO accumulation in wounding signaling pathways of sweet potato.

In sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas cv Tainung 57), MAPK cascades are involved in the regulation of Ipomoelin (IPO) expression upon wounding. p38 MAPK plays an important role in plant's responses to various environmental stresses. However, the role of p38-like MAPK in wounding response is still unknown.

MicroR408 regulates defense response upon wounding in sweet potato.

MiRNAs play diverse roles in plant development and defense responses by binding to their mRNA targets based on sequence complementarity. Here, we investigated a wound-related miR408 and its target genes in sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) by small RNA deep sequencing and transcriptome analysis. The expression patterns of miR408 and the miR408 precursor were significantly repressed by wounding and jasmonate (JA).

Validity and reliability of the Mandarin version of Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI-MV) in cancer patients.

Nurses play an important role in maintaining patients' dignity. How to measure patients' dignity and dignity-related distress is an important issue in nursing care. Use of a reliable and valid tool assessing dignity-related distress in patients is necessary.

RGB-Stack Light Emitting Diode Modules with Transparent Glass Circuit Board and Oil Encapsulation.

The light emitting diode (LED) is widely used in modern solid-state lighting applications, and its output efficiency is closely related to the submounts' material properties. Most submounts used today, such as low-power printed circuit boards (PCBs) or high-power metal core printed circuit boards (MCPCBs), are not transparent and seriously decrease the output light extraction. To meet the requirements of high light output and better color mixing, a three-dimensional (3-D) stacked flip-chip (FC) LED module is proposed and demonstrated.

MicroRNA160 Modulates Plant Development and Heat Shock Protein Gene Expression to Mediate Heat Tolerance in .

Global warming is causing a negative impact on plant growth and adversely impacts on crop yield. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical in regulating the expression of genes involved in plant development as well as defense responses. The effects of miRNAs on heat-stressed warrants further investigation.

The expression characteristics of FAM71D and its association with sperm motility.

Study Question: What are the features of FAM71D (Family with sequence similarity 71, member D) expression and is there an association between FAM71D expression and sperm motility?

Summary Answer: FAM71D, a novel protein exclusively expressed in the testis, is located in sperm flagella and is functionally involved in sperm motility.

What Is Known Already: Some testis-specific proteins have been reported as potential diagnostic biomarkers to evaluate the spermatogenesis process and sperm quality. We have identified a novel testis-specific protein, FAM71D, through microarray data analysis, yet little is known about its expression and function.

Protective Factors of Demoralization among Cancer Patients in Taiwan: An Age-matched and Gender-matched Study.

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the protective factors of demoralization in cancer patients via investigation of cancer patients' demographic and disease characteristics.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. We used a structured questionnaire, which contained items on demographic and disease characteristics, as well as the Demoralization Scale Mandarin Version (DS-MV), with a cutoff of 30 or more indicating high demoralization.

Predictors of depressive symptoms among psychiatric nurses who suffered from workplace violence.

Aims: We examined the possible factors that contributed to or prevented developing depressive symptoms among psychiatric nurses who suffered from workplace violence under Hill's ABC-X Model.

Background: Workplace violence-related depressive symptoms are some of the major causes leading to impaired quality of life of victims and a heavy burden on society.

Design: This is a cross-sectional and correlational study.

GNAQ mutation R183Q as a potential cause of familial Sturge-Weber syndrome: A case report.

Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS) is a rare neurocutaneous disorder whose etiology remains unclear. To investigate the genetic contribution underlying this disease, the genetic variants of a 4-generation family with a history of SWS was analyzed in the present study. SWS was diagnosed in 3 of the family members (II-1, III-11 and IV-6).

A nonsense mutation in Ccdc62 gene is responsible for spermiogenesis defects and male infertility in repro29/repro29 mice.

Phenotype-driven mutagenesis is an unbiased method to identify novel genes involved in spermatogenesis and other reproductive processes. Male repro29/repro29 mice generated by the Reproductive Genomics Program at the Jackson Laboratory were infertile with deformed sperm and poor motility. Using selected exonic capture and massively parallel sequencing technologies, we identified a nonsense mutation in the exon 6 of coiled-coil domain-containing 62 gene (Ccdc62), which results in a formation of a premature stop codon and a truncated protein.

Deficiency of SPATA46, a Novel Nuclear Membrane Protein, Causes Subfertility in Male Mice.

Teratozoospermia is generally associated with clinical infertility. Despite numerous studies, the molecular mechanisms underlying male infertility are still poorly understood. In the present study, we demonstrated that deletion of Spata46, a gene encoding a novel protein of unknown function found in mouse testis, was responsible for male subfertility, and the cause of subfertility was characterized as abnormal sperm head shape and a failure of sperm-egg fusion.

Identification of NR0B1 as a novel androgen receptor co-repressor in mouse Sertoli cells.

Nuclear receptor subfamily 0 group B member 1 (Nr0b1) is an atypical member of the nuclear receptor family that is predominantly expressed in mouse Sertoli cells (SCs). Mutations of NR0B1 in humans cause adrenal failure and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. The targeted mutagenesis of Nr0b1 in mice has revealed a primary gonadal defect characterized by the overexpression of aromatase and cellular obstruction of the seminiferous tubules and efferent ductules, leading to germ cell death and infertility.

Identification and characteristics of the testes-specific gene, Ccdc38, in mice.

Distinguishing the testes-specific genes in different species may disclose key genes associated with testes-specific functions and provide sufficient information for the study and treatment of male infertility. A testes‑specific gene, coiled-coil domain containing 38 (Ccdc38), was identified by screening UniGene libraries. Systematic bioinformatics analysis demonstrated that the CCDC38 protein was conserved in various mammalian species.

The complete mitochondrial genome of Babylonia borneensis (Gastropoda: Neogastropoda: Buccinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of the Babylonia borneensis is reported for the first time in this study. The length of genome was 15 556 bp, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA genes and 22 transfer RNA genes. The nucleotide composition of the mitogenome showed AT-rich feature, with the AT content of 68.

Size-tunable copper nanocluster aggregates and their application in hydrogen sulfide sensing on paper-based devices.

Polystyrene sulfonate (PSS), a strong polyelectrolyte, was used to prepare red photoluminescent PSS-penicillamine (PA) copper (Cu) nanoclusters (NC) aggregates, which displayed high selectivity and sensitivity to the detection of hydrogen sulfide (H2S). The size of the PSS-PA-Cu NC aggregates could be readily controlled from 5.5 μm to 173 nm using different concentrations of PSS, which enabled better dispersity and higher sensitivity towards H2S.