Background
A high fat diet is associated with risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). However, whether hyperlipidemia is associated with BPH remains unclear. This population‐based cohort study ...elucidated whether hyperlipidemia is associated with an increased risk of BPH.
Methods
We used a new‐exposure design and analyzed data retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database between January 1, 2000 and December 31, 2013. The cohort of men with newly diagnosed hyperlipidemia and the age‐ and index‐date‐matched (1:3) nonhyperlipidemia cohort were tracked for incidence of BPH during a 1‐ to 14‐year follow‐up. Diagnosis of BPH using the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, and the occurrence of BPH diagnosis plus the use of alpha‐blockers or 5‐alpha reductase inhibitors or receipt of transurethral resection of the prostate were the primary and secondary endpoints, respectively. The confounders in this study were diabetes mellitus, hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, liver cirrhosis, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, metformin, aspirin, and number of urologist visits. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for the propensity score.
Results
A total of 35 860 subjects (aged 40‐99 years)—including the hyperlipidemia cohort (n = 8,965) and nonhyperlipidemia cohort (n = 26 895)—were identified. Our data revealed that the hyperlipidemia cohort had significantly higher incidences of developing BPH (24.6% vs 12.3%, P < 0.001) and treated BPH (13% vs 5.7%, P < 0.001) compared with the nonhyperlipidemia cohort. The risk of developing BPH in the hyperlipidemia cohort was significantly higher than that in the nonhyperlipidemia cohort (HR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.63‐1.83, P < 0.001) after adjustment for the propensity score.
Conclusions
Hyperlipidemia is associated with an increased risk of clinical BPH.
The complexation between cucurbit8uril, Q8, and isonicotinic acid has been studied using
1
H NMR spectroscopy, UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and single crystal X-ray diffraction. ...The results revealed that the 2:1 inclusion complex (4-PA)
2
@Q8·25H
2
O is formed, with two guests simultaneously encapsulated in the hydrophobic cavity; the mean planes of the guests are 3.535 Å apart.
Graphical abstract
•A bead-immunoassay integrated with nanofluidic preconcentrator was accomplished.•The device was used to measure the antigen with concentration of pg/ml level.•A rapid and high-sensitivity PSA ...detection with a detection limit of 50 pg/ml in 20 min can be achieved.•The proteins can be concentrated upto 10,000 fold in 2 min.
In this study, we developed a rapid biomarker sensor with a high sensitivity and high selectivity by applying a bead-based immunosensing technique in a nanofluidic preconcentration device. Antibody-coated 300-nm beads and antigens were mixed and then pumped into a valve-integrated nanofluidic preconcentration device for collection and trapping. Because of size differences between the molecules and 300-nm beads, the antigen (molecule) in the mixed solution could be concentrated by up to 10,000-fold in 2 min, but the nanobeads could not be thus concentrated. After concentrated antigens and antibody-coated nanobeads were isolated, micro-particle tracking velocimetry was used to measure the Brownian diffusion of the nanobeads in real time to determine the antigen concentration. Through this preconcentration experiment, we demonstrated a rapid and high-sensitivity detection of prostate-specific antigen with a detection limit of 50 pg/ml in 20 min.
A high-cholesterol diet increases the risk of bladder cancer. The purpose of this nationwide longitudinal population-based retrospective cohort study is to investigate whether hyperlipidemia is a ...risk factor for bladder cancer.Data from Taiwan National Health Insurance Database were analyzed. The primary study end point was the occurrence of newly diagnosed bladder cancer. The relative risk of bladder cancer in a hyperlipidemia cohort was compared with that in an age- and gender-matched non-hyperlipidemia cohort by using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Cox regression analyses were further adjusted by the propensity score.Our data revealed that the hyperlipidemia cohort (n = 33,555) had a significantly higher subsequent risk of bladder cancer than did the non-hyperlipidemia cohort (n = 33,555) (adjusted hazard ratio HR = 1.37, P = .005) after propensity score adjustment. Subgroup analyses revealed that men in the hyperlipidemia cohort had a significantly higher subsequent risk of bladder cancer than did those in the non-hyperlipidemia cohort (adjusted HR = 1.36, P = .040). However, the risk of bladder cancer was not significantly different between women in the hyperlipidemia cohort and those in the non-hyperlipidemia cohort. Subgroup analyses further revealed that the risk of bladder cancer was significantly higher in men aged 20 to 39 years in the hyperlipidemia cohort than in those in the non-hyperlipidemia cohort (adjusted HR = 5.45, P = .029).In conclusion, hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for bladder cancer in young adult men.
In Taiwan, freshwater clams (Corbicula fluminea) and hard clams (Meretrix lusoria) are the most frequently raised shellfish in land-based pond aquaculture, but research on the accumulation of ...organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in these shellfish is limited. We detected the levels of 14 OCPs in 62 shellfish from Taiwanese aquafarms by performing gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. OCP residues were detected in 4.84% of the samples including readings of 0.04 mg/kg chlordane (in a freshwater clam), 0.03 mg/g p,p′-DDE (in a freshwater clam), and 0.02 mg/g p,p′-DDE (in a hard clam). However, the associated estimated daily intake values were less than the acceptable daily intake levels of chlordane and p,p′-DDE Therefore, the consumption of these shellfish presents no immediate health risks. Our findings contribute to food safety and serve as a reference for OCP screenings for aquatic shellfish.
•Organochlorine pesticides residues were detected in 62 shellfishes by using GC–MS/MS.•Samples contained chlordane residues at 0.04 mg/kg, and p,p′-DDE at 0.02–0.03 mg/g.•For Taiwanese men and women, the EDI is less than 0.1% of the ADI for OCP residues.•Collectively, no immediate health risk for shellfish consumption in Taiwan
Industry 4.0 can enhance the operational efficiency of the supply chain, but the current research mainly focuses on analytics and smart things. Many companies integrate their organizations more ...closely with data by adopting Industry 4.0, but this study found that some companies have changed their leadership, organizational, and customer relationships through the adoption of CPS. Industry 4.0 is a socio-technical system that should be explored in terms of management practices, employee feedback, and the cause-and-effect relationship between them. This study proposes a modeling framework using the Su-field analysis of TRIZ method (Theory of Inventive Problem Solving) and applies the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) method to investigate the relationship between leadership, organizational culture, and service management in the Taiwan industry. The results show that the data analysis, CPS, IoT, and intelligent technologies of Industry 4.0 can facilitate connections within the value chain and increase agility in response to environmental changes. Companies must have a good organizational culture and provide the right incentives to gain the organizational commitment of their employees to implement Industry 4.0.
Herein we describe a simple fluorescence quenching method for the selective recognition and determination of the amino acid phenylalanine (Phe). The use of 1H NMR spectroscopy revealed that the ...alkaloid palmatine (PAL) can encapsulated partially into the cavity of cucurbit7uril (Q7) in aqueous solution to form a stable 1:1 host−guest inclusion complex. This host-guest complex exhibits fluorescence of moderate intensity. Interestingly, the addition of the Phe results in a dramatic quenching of the fluorescence intensity associated with the inclusion complex. By contrast, the addition of other natural amino acids resulted in no change in the fluorescence. Based on the linear relationship between the fluorescence intensity and the concentration of Phe, the detection of the concentration of Phe in aqueous solution is facile. Thus, a new fluorescence quenching method for the recognition and determination of the Phe has established herein.
A simple and validated fluorescence quenching method for the selective recognition and determination of the amino acid phenylalanine (Phe) is reported. Display omitted
•A simple and validated fluorescence quenching method for the selective recognition and determination of phenylalanine.•Palmatine can be encapsulated into the cucurbit7uril to form a stable 1:1 host−guest inclusion complex.•The addition of the phenylalanine dramatically quenched the fluorescence intensity of the inclusion complex.•A new fluorescence enhancing method for the recognition and determination of the phenylalanine was established.
Doxepin is commonly prescribed for depression and anxiety treatment. Doxepin-related disruptions to metabolism and renal/hepatic adverse effects remain unclear; thus, the underlying mechanism of ...action warrants further research. Here, we investigated how doxepin affects lipid change, glucose homeostasis, chromium (Cr) distribution, renal impairment, liver damage, and fatty liver scores in C57BL6/J mice subjected to a high-fat diet and 5 mg/kg/day doxepin treatment for eight weeks. We noted that the treated mice had higher body, kidney, liver, retroperitoneal, and epididymal white adipose tissue weights; serum and liver triglyceride, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels; daily food efficiency; and liver lipid regulation marker expression. They also demonstrated exacerbated insulin resistance and glucose intolerance with lower Akt phosphorylation, GLUT4 expression, and renal damage as well as higher reactive oxygen species and interleukin 1 and lower catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase levels. The treated mice had a net-negative Cr balance due to increased urinary excretion, leading to Cr mobilization, delaying hyperglycemia recovery. Furthermore, they had considerably increased fatty liver scores, paralleling increases in adiponectin, FASN, PNPLA3,
mRNA, and
mRNA levels. In conclusion, doxepin administration potentially worsens renal injury, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and diabetes.
The objective of this study is to develop a device to mimic a microfluidic system of human arterial blood vessels. The device combines fluid shear stress (FSS) and cyclic stretch (CS), which are ...resulting from blood flow and blood pressure, respectively. The device can reveal real-time observation of dynamic morphological change of cells in different flow fields (continuous flow, reciprocating flow and pulsatile flow) and stretch. We observe the effects of FSS and CS on endothelial cells (ECs), including ECs align their cytoskeleton proteins with the fluid flow direction and paxillin redistribution to the cell periphery or the end of stress fibers. Thus, understanding the morphological and functional changes of endothelial cells on physical stimuli can help us to prevent and improve the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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•This study is to develop a microfluidic system mimicking arterial blood vessels•Cell behaviors in the system can be monitored in real time•The system mimics arterial environment including pulsatile flow and dynamic stretch•ECs align the cytoskeleton protein and paxillin redistribution under dynamic stretch
Cardiovascular medicine; Biodevices; Bioengineering
Langerhans cell histiocytosis affecting the thyroid commonly presents with nonspecific clinical and radiological manifestations. Thyroid Langerhans cell histiocytosis is typically characterized by ...non-enhancing hypodense lesions with an enlarged thyroid on computed tomography medical images. Thyroid involvement in LCH is uncommon and typically encountered in adults, as is salivary gland involvement. Therefore, we present a unique pediatric case featuring simultaneous salivary and thyroid involvement in LCH.
A 3-year-old boy with complaints of an anterior neck mass persisting for 1 to 2 months, accompanied by mild pain, dysphagia, and hoarseness. A physical examination revealed a 2.5 cm firm and tender mass in the left anterior neck. Laboratory examinations revealed normal thyroid function test levels. Ultrasonography revealed multiple heterogeneous hypoechoic nodules with unclear and irregular margins in both lobes of the thyroid. Contrast-enhanced neck computed tomography revealed an enlarged thyroid gland and bilateral submandibular glands with non-enhancing hypointense nodular lesions, and multiple confluent thin-walled small (< 1.5 cm) cysts scattered bilaterally in the lungs. Subsequently, a left thyroid excisional biopsy was performed, leading to a histopathological diagnosis of LCH. Immunohistochemical analysis of the specimen demonstrated diffuse positivity for S-100, CD1a, and Langerin and focal positivity for CD68. The patient received standard therapy with vinblastine and steroid, and showed disease regression during regular follow-up of neck ultrasonography.
Involvement of the thyroid and submandibular gland as initial diagnosis of Langerhans cell histiocytosis is extremely rare. It is important to investigate the involvement of affected systems. A comprehensive survey and biopsy are required to establish a definitive diagnosis.
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