Tazarotene-Induced Gene 1 (TIG1) Interacts with Serine Protease Inhibitor Kazal-Type 2 (SPINK2) to Inhibit Cellular Invasion of Testicular Carcinoma Cells.

Tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) encodes a protein that is a retinoid-regulated tumor suppressor. TIG1 is expressed in most normal tissues, and downregulation of TIG1 expression in multiple cancers is caused by promoter hypermethylation. Kazal-type serine protease inhibitor-2 (SPINK2) is a serine protease inhibitor, and the SPINK protein family has been shown to inhibit the expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA).

Pre-Treatment with Ten-Minute Carbon Dioxide Inhalation Prevents Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Lung Injury in Mice via Down-Regulation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Expression.

Various animal studies have shown beneficial effects of hypercapnia in lung injury. However, in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), there is controversial information regarding the effect of hypercapnia on outcomes. The duration of carbon dioxide inhalation may be the key to the protective effect of hypercapnia.

A comprehensive study comparing tack and glue mesh fixation in laparoscopic total extraperitoneal repair for adult groin hernias.

Background: Glue mesh fixation is thought to cause less pain compared to tack mesh fixation during laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair (TEP). However, the clinical benefits of glue mesh fixation are still controversial. This study aimed to evaluate the acute pain, chronic pain, and recurrence rate between these two fixation methods.

Ratio and difference of the cross-sectional area of median nerve to ulnar nerve in diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome: a case control study.

Background: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the median-to-ulnar nerve ratio (MUR) and the median-to-ulnar nerve difference (MUD) in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

Methods: In this study, 32 patients with CTS and 32 healthy volunteers were evaluated. All participants received a series of tests and ultrasound examination for the evaluation of the following criteria: cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the pisiform level (CSA-P), swelling ratio (SR), MUR, MUD, and flattening ratio (FR).

Plasma Aldosterone After Seated Saline Infusion Test Outperforms Captopril Test at Predicting Clinical Outcomes After Adrenalectomy for Primary Aldosteronism.

Objective: The saline infusion test (SIT) and the captopril test (CT) are widely used as confirmatory tests for primary aldosteronism (PA). We hypothesized that post-SIT and post-CT plasma aldosterone concentrations (PAC) indicate the severity of aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) and might predict clinical outcome.

Methods: We recruited 216 patients with APA in the Taiwan Primary Aldosteronism Investigation (TAIPAI) registry who received both seated SIT and CT as confirmatory tests.

The Ribosomal Protein RPLP0 Mediates PLAAT4-induced Cell Cycle Arrest and Cell Apoptosis.

Phospholipase A and acyltransferase 4 (PLAAT4) is a member of the HREV107 tumor suppressor gene family. The expression of PLAAT4 has been shown to induce cell death; however, the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Here, we found that RPLP0, a ribosomal protein, can interact with PLAAT4, as determined by yeast two-hybrid screening, coimmunoprecipitation, and colocalization.

Breastfeeding Experiences of Taiwanese Mothers of Infants with Breastfeeding or Breast Milk Jaundice in Certified Baby-Friendly Hospitals.

Purpose: The purpose was to explore the breastfeeding experiences of mothers of infants with breastfeeding or breast milk jaundice.

Methods: In-depth qualitative interviews and content analysis were conducted with nine mothers of newborns with breastfeeding and/or breast milk jaundice who breastfed their babies during the first year postpartum.

Results: Mothers' experiences can be described in four phases and six themes.

Responsiveness of the modified lower extremity functional scale in patients with low back pain and sciatica: A comparison with pain intensity and the modified Roland-Morris Disability Scale.

We tested the responsiveness of the modified Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) for patients with low back pain (LBP) and sciatica and made a comparison with the modified Roland-Morris Disability Scale for sciatica (RMS-L) and self-reported pain intensity measured by visual analogue scale (VAS).One hundred and forty-eight participants were recruited from 2 university hospitals. The evaluation included demographic data, LBP history, and the modified LEFS, RMS-L, and VAS, with a follow-up one month later.

Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Mediates Ebastine-Induced Human Follicle Dermal Papilla Cell Proliferation.

Ebastine is a second-generation histamine H1 receptor antagonist that is used to attenuate allergic inflammation. Ebastine has also shown to affect hair loss; however, the immunoregulatory effect of ebastine cannot completely exclude the possibility of spontaneous hair regrowth in ebastine-treated mice. In this study, we examined the effects of ebastine on the growth of human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPC) using a WST-1 cell proliferation assay and a bromodeoxyuridine incorporation assay.

Laparoscopic total extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair is safe and feasible in patients with continuation of antithrombotics.

Aims: We aimed to evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic total extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair in patients with the continuation of their antithrombotic agents.

Settings And Design: This was prospective cohort study.

Materials And Methods: A total of 115 patients who underwent TEP inguinal hernia repair between January 2015 and September 2016 were included in the analysis.

Tazarotene-Induced Gene 1 Interacts with DNAJC8 and Regulates Glycolysis in Cervical Cancer Cells.

The tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) protein is a retinoid-inducible growth regulator and is considered a tumor suppressor. Here, we show that DnaJ heat shock protein family member C8 (DNAJC8) is a TIG1 target that regulates glycolysis. Ectopic DNAJC8 expression induced the translocation of pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) into the nucleus, subsequently inducing glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) expression to promote glucose uptake.

Using Rasch Analysis to Validate the Motor Activity Log and the Lower Functioning Motor Activity Log in Patients With Stroke.

Background: The Motor Activity Log (MAL) and Lower-Functioning MAL (LF-MAL) are used to assess the amount of use of the more impaired arm and the quality of movement during activities in real-life situations for patients with stroke.

Objective: This study used Rasch analysis to examine the psychometric properties of the MAL and LF-MAL in patients with stroke.

Design: This is a methodological study.

Factors affecting operative efficiency and post-operative convalescence in laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) adrenalectomy.

Background: Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) adrenalectomy is a novel challenging technique which is still under clinical evaluation. Initial reports have revealed its superiority in patient convalescence. In addition, it has been reported that some patient or anatomic factors might affect the ergonomics of LESS adrenalectomy.

Fibrosis-4 Index Helps Identify HBV Carriers With the Lowest Risk of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objectives: Several viral and host risk factors have been used to predict risks of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with chronic infection of hepatitis B virus (HBV). However, little is known whether fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, a liver fibrosis biomarker, helps identify non-cirrhotic patients with the lowest HCC risk.

Methods: A total of 2075 treatment-naive Taiwanese patients with chronic HBV infection were followed for an average period of 16.

Characterization of an iron oxide nanoparticle labelling and MRI-based protocol for inducing human mesenchymal stem cells into neural-like cells.

The aim of the current study was to develop an iron oxide nanoparticle (ION) labelling and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-based protocol to allow visualization of the differentiation process of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) into neural-like cells (NCs) in vitro. Ferucarbotran, a clinically available ION, which can be visualized under MRI, is used for tracking cells implanted in vivo. The NCs were verified morphologically and histologically by light microscopy, and their functions were verified by measuring their action potentials.

Reduced Internal Carotid Artery Flow in Color-coded Carotid Duplex Sonography.

Purpose: Reduced flow in the internal carotid artery (ICA) is related to cerebral ischemia. We established a classification of reduced ICA flow through color-coded carotid duplex (CCD) sonography.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 25,000 CCD images in sonography laboratory.

Effect of spironolactone on the risks of mortality and hospitalization for heart failure in pre-dialysis advanced chronic kidney disease: A nationwide population-based study.

Background: Spironolactone has been shown to reduce cardiovascular death in patients with mild-to-moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its risks and benefits in advanced CKD remain unsettled. We aimed to assess whether spironolactone reduces cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in pre-dialysis stage 5 CKD patients.

Methods: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database from January 2000 to June 2009, we enrolled 27,213 pre-dialysis stage 5 CKD adult patients, in whom 1363 patients were treated with spironolactone (user) and 25,850 were not (nonuser).

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.

Tazarotene-Induced Gene 1 Enhanced Cervical Cell Autophagy through Transmembrane Protein 192.

Tazarotene-induced gene 1 (TIG1) is a retinoic acid-inducible protein that is considered a putative tumor suppressor. The expression of TIG1 is decreased in malignant prostate carcinoma or poorly differentiated colorectal adenocarcinoma, but TIG1 is present in benign or well-differentiated tumors. Ectopic TIG1 expression led to suppression of growth in cancer cells.

Is Laparoendoscopic Single-Site Adrenalectomy a Feasible Alternative in Treating Aldosterone-Producing Adenoma?

. To compare laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) and conventional multiport adrenalectomy in patients with aldosterone-producing adenoma (APA). .

Influence of traditional Chinese medicine syndrome groups on quality of life in women with metabolic syndrome.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM; zhōng yī) syndrome groups are based on the symptoms of human diseases and guide the use of Chinese herbs. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of TCM syndrome groups on biochemical characteristics and quality of life (QOL) in women with metabolic syndrome (MS). Among the 1080 registered female patients screened at our outpatient clinic, a total of 322 women aged between 18 and 65 years and meeting the requirements of MS were enrolled.

Four-year entecavir therapy reduces hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhotic events and mortality in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background & Aims: Oral antiviral therapy may reduce the disease progression of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. We aimed to further investigate the efficacy of long-term entecavir therapy in reduction of the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), cirrhotic events and mortality in a large group of CHB-related cirrhosis patients.

Methods: The C-TEAM (Cirrhosis-Taiwanese EntecAvir Multicenter) study was a nationwide, multicenter, retrospective-prospective cohort study in Taiwan.

A Versatile Theranostic Delivery Platform Integrating Magnetic Resonance Imaging/Computed Tomography, pH/cis-Diol Controlled Release, and Targeted Therapy.

The functions of biomedical imaging, cancer targeting, and controlled release of therapeutic agents were integrated into a drug delivery platform to proof its diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities. This versatile nanocomposite is based on the strategic design of wormlike mesoporous silica nanocarriers that are decorated with extremely small iron oxide nanoparticles, having a prominent T1-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) signal. The controlled release function was then achieved through the grafting of polyalcohol saccharide derivative ligands onto the surfaces of mesoporous silica nanoparticles to conjugate with boronic acid functionalized gold nanoparticles, which acted as the gate and the source of computed tomography (CT) signals.