Low-frequency electroacupuncture at acupoints guanyuan (CV4) and zhongji (CV3) lengthen ejaculatory latency and improves sexual behavior in male rats.

Acupuncture is a key component of Traditional Chinese Medicine in which needles are inserted into specific areas in the body to stimulate certain physiological reactions of the body. Clinical research shows that acupuncture is beneficial in treating a variety of illnesses, such as erectile dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) stimulation of both low- and high frequencies at Guanyuan (CV4) and Zhongji (CV3) acupoints on male copulatory behavior in sexually experienced male rats.

Xanthohumol regulates miR-4749-5p-inhibited RFC2 signaling in enhancing temozolomide cytotoxicity to glioblastoma.

Aims: Xanthohumol (XN), a natural prenylated flavonoid isolated from Humulus lupulus L. (hops), possess the therapeutic effects in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), which is a grade IV aggressive glioma in adults. However, low bioavailability and extractive yield limit the clinical applications of XN.

Shall I trust the report? Variable performance of Sanger sequencing revealed by deep sequencing on HIV drug resistance mutation detection.

Background: The clinical utilisation of deep sequencing in HIV treatment has been hindered due to its unknown correlation with standard Sanger genotyping and the undetermined value of minority drug resistance mutation (DRM) detection.

Objectives: To compare deep sequencing performance to standard Sanger genotyping with clinical samples, in an effort to delineate the correlation between the results from the two methods and to find the optimal deep sequencing threshold for clinical utilisation.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using stored plasma collected from August 2014 to March 2018 for HIV genotyping with the commercial Sanger genotyping kit.

Multiple Progressive Thermopreconditioning Improves Cardiac Ischemia/Reperfusion-induced Left Ventricular Contractile Dysfunction and Structural Abnormality in Rat.

Background: Triple progressive thermopreconditioning (3PTP) may induce high Hsp-70 expression to maintain cardiac function. We suggest that 3PTP may reduce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury during organ transplantation through Bag3/Hsp-70 mediated defense mechanisms.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into sham control group and 72 h after 3PTP in a 42°C water bath (3PTP) group.

miR-140 targeting CTSB signaling suppresses the mesenchymal transition and enhances temozolomide cytotoxicity in glioblastoma multiforme.

Temozolomide (TMZ) is a first-line chemotherapeutic agent used against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), but this disease exhibits recurrence and high lethality. Therefore, it is critical to explore biomarkers which involve in drug resistance and can be represented as different therapeutic effects after a diagnosis. We attempted to investigate the underlying variably expressed genes that contribute to the formation of resistance to TMZ.

In vitro activities of imipenem, vancomycin, and rifampicin against clinical Elizabethkingia species producing BlaB and GOB metallo-beta-lactamases.

Elizabethkingia genus is emerging in hospitals and resistant to multiple antibiotics. The intrinsic imipenem resistance of Elizabethkingia genus is related to two chromosome-encoded metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs), BlaB and GOB. This study was aimed to investigate the in vitro activity of imipenem, vancomycin, and rifampicin in clinical Elizabethkingia species.

Dose-Response Relationship of Outdoor Exposure and Myopia Indicators: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Various Research Methods.

Myopia in children has dramatically increased worldwide. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of outdoor light exposure on myopia. According to research data from 13 studies of 15,081 children aged 4-14 at baseline, outdoor light exposure significantly reduced myopia incidence/prevalence (odds ratio [OR] = 0.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase activity mediates Lycium barbarum polysaccharides-enhanced sexual performance without stimulating noncontact erection in rats.

Rationale: Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is known to promote reproductive functions. However, its role in noncontact erection (NCE) of penis initiated by brain regions including medial preoptic area (MPOA) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) regions responsible for sexual behavior has not been investigated.

Objectives: Therefore, this study initially investigated the effects of LBP on male sexual function, and subsequently, the mechanistic insight was investigated through assessing the expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the MPOA and PVN.

Gene landscape and correlation between B-cell infiltration and programmed death ligand 1 expression in lung adenocarcinoma patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas data set.

Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are related to positive clinical prognoses in numerous cancer types. Programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), a mediator of the PD-1 receptor, plays an inhibitory role in cancer immune responses. PD-L1 upregulation can impede infiltrating T-cell functions in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), a lung cancer subtype.

Investigation of Interactive Activity of Electro-Acupuncture on Pharmacokinetics of Sildenafil and Their Synergistic Effect on Penile Blood Flow in Rats.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a disorder found in males throughout the world, which negatively affects relationships with partners with advancing age. Hence, in this study, we tested a combined novel treatment of electro-acupuncture (EA) and sildenafil citrate against ED. In addition to EA therapy, the sildenafil citrate, a phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitor, is a widely recognized drug that has achieved considerable success in the treatment of ED.

The prevalence and risk factors of atopic dermatitis in 6-8 year-old first graders in Taipei.

Background: Despite the advance in the understanding of etiology, pathophysiology and diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD), its prevalence has increased annually in Taiwan.

Purposes: The purpose of this study is to explore the prevalence, and personal and environmental risk factors of AD.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted via health centers of elementary schools in Taipei city.

Overexpression of AdeABC efflux pump associated with tigecycline resistance in clinical Acinetobacter nosocomialis isolates.

Objectives: Tigecycline non-susceptible Acinetobacter nosocomialis (TNAN) has been discovered in clinical isolates. The resistance-nodulation-cell division (RND)-type efflux system plays a major role in tigecycline non-susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii, but the mechanism in A. nosocomialis remains unknown.

Arsenic trioxide-mediated suppression of miR-182-5p is associated with potent anti-oxidant effects through up-regulation of .

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is a traditional Chinese medicine that can induce oxidative stress for treatment of cancer cells. However, ATO may generate anti-oxidative responses to compromise the cytotoxic effect, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we found that ATO could inhibit miR-182-5p expression in patient-derived primary S1 glioblastoma (GBM) cells accompanied by up-regulation of Sestrin-2 () mRNA, a known anti-oxidant molecule.

Renal function is associated with 1-month and 1-year mortality in patients with ischemic stroke.

Background And Aims: Renal dysfunction is a potent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, including stroke. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of admission estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels on short-term (1-month) and long-term (1-year) mortality in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data, we classified ischemic stroke patients, identified from April 2006 to December 2015, into 5 groups by eGFR at admission: ≥ 90, 60-89, 30-59, 15-29, and <15 mL/min/1.

Activation of autophagy is involved in the protective effect of 17β-oestradiol on endotoxaemia-induced multiple organ dysfunction in ovariectomized rats.

Oestrogens have been reported to attenuate acute inflammation in sepsis. In this study, the effects of long-term oestrogen replacement with 17β-oestradiol (E ) on endotoxaemia-induced circulatory dysfunction and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome were evaluated in ovariectomized (Ovx) rats. E (50 μg/kg, s.

β-human chorionic gonadotropin-secreting intracranial germ-cell tumor associated with high testosterone in an adult man: A case report.

A 38-year-old male patient presented with general weakness, polydipsia and a body weight loss of 10 kg in two years. Hypopituitarism with central hypothyroidism and central adrenal insufficiency were noted at Taipei City Hospital (Taipei, Taiwan). However, hypogonadotropic hypergonadism was also observed.

Iatrogenic Effect? Cautions when Utilizing an Early Health Education for Post-concussion Symptoms.

Objective: Patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) usually suffer from the post-concussion symptoms (PCS). PCS could recover by 3 months post-injury, but some patients still persistently complain of those symptoms for years. Accordingly, the Chang-Gung University Brief Intervention for Post-Concussion Symptoms (CGU-BIPCS) was developed to intervene PCS based on the established advantages of health education.

Cholesterol Levels Are Associated with 30-day Mortality from Ischemic Stroke in Dialysis Patients.

Background: We investigated the impact of serum cholesterol levels on 30-day mortality after ischemic stroke in dialysis patients.

Methods: From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data, we identified 46,770 ischemic stroke cases, including 1101 dialysis patients and 45,669 nondialysis patients from 2006 to 2013.

Results: Overall, the 30-day mortality was 1.

The microRNA-302b-inhibited insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 signaling pathway induces glioma cell apoptosis by targeting nuclear factor IA.

MicroRNAs are small noncoding RNAs that post-transcriptionally control the expression of genes involved in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) development. Although miR-302b functions as a tumor suppressor, its role in GBM is still unclear. Therefore, this study comprehensively explored the roles of miR-302b-mediated gene networks in GBM cell death.

The CHAC1-inhibited Notch3 pathway is involved in temozolomide-induced glioma cytotoxicity.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the high-grade primary glioma in adults. Temozolomide (TMZ), an alkylating agent of the imidazotetrazine series, is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug for clinical therapy. However, the expense of TMZ therapy and increasing drug resistance to TMZ decreases its therapeutic effects.

The Inhibition of microRNA-128 on IGF-1-Activating mTOR Signaling Involves in Temozolomide-Induced Glioma Cell Apoptotic Death.

Temozolomide (TMZ), an alkylating agent of the imidazotetrazine series, is a first-line chemotherapeutic drug used in the clinical therapy of glioblastoma multiforme, the most common and high-grade primary glioma in adults. Micro (mi)RNAs, which are small noncoding RNAs, post-transcriptionally regulate gene expressions and are involved in gliomagenesis. However, no studies have reported relationships between TMZ and miRNA gene regulation.