Insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2) is associated with insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and tumorigenesis. However, the association between the IGF2BP2 polymorphism and ...oral cancer risk remains unclear. We recruited 1349 male patients with oral cancer and 1198 cancer-free controls. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms IGF2BP2 rs11705701, rs4402960, and rs1470579 were assessed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. The results indicate that the male patients with oral cancer and with the rs11705701 GA+AA, rs4402960 GT+TT, and rs1470579 AC+CC genotypes had increased risk of advanced clinical stage, larger tumor, and progression of lymph node metastasis compared with those with wild-type IGF2BP2. Moreover, according to The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset, high expression of the IGF2BP2 gene is associated with poor survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, our results suggest that IGF2BP2 polymorphisms are associated with less favorable oral cancer clinical characteristics.
To establish the analytic conditions for examining the aroma quality of vanilla pods, we compared different extraction methods and identified a suitable option. We utilized headspace solid-phase ...microextraction (HS-SPME), steam distillation (SD), simultaneous steam distillation (SDE) and alcoholic extraction combined with gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify volatile components of vanilla pods. A total of 84 volatile compounds were identified in this experiment, of which SDE could identify the most volatile compounds, with a total of 51 species, followed by HS-SPME, with a total of 28 species. Ten volatile compounds were identified by extraction with a minimum of 35% alcohol. HS-SPME extraction provided the highest total aroma peak areas, and the peak areas of aldehydes, furans, alcohols, monoterpenes and phenols compounds were several times higher than those of the other extraction methods. The results showed that the two technologies, SDE and HS-SPME, could be used together to facilitate analysis of vanilla pod aroma.
Fault-tolerant operation of induction motors fed by soft starters when experiencing thyristor/silicon-controlled rectifier open-circuit or short-circuit switch fault is presented in this paper. The ...present low-cost fault mitigation solution can be easily retrofitted, without significant cost increase, into the existing off-the-shelf three-phase soft starters to enhance the reliability and fault-tolerant capability of such soft starter systems. In the event of either thyristor open-circuit or short-circuit switch fault in any one of the phases, the fault-tolerant soft starters are capable of operating in a two-phase control mode using a novel resilient closed-loop control scheme. The performance resulted from the present fault-tolerant soft starter control has demonstrated reduced motor starting transient torque pulsations as well as reduced motor inrush current magnitude. The present fault-tolerant approach is applicable to any soft starters that control small to large integral horsepower induction motors. Simulation results along with supporting experimental results for a 1.492-kW, 460-V, four-pole, three-phase induction motor are presented here to demonstrate the soundness and effectiveness of the present fault-tolerant approach.
Cardiometabolic disorders were discussed and might be changed by microbiota in recent years. Since the colon acts as the primary reservoir of microbiota, we designed the present study to explore the ...association between colectomy and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We identified a total of 18,424 patients who underwent colectomy between 2000-2012 for reasons other than colorectal cancer from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients were matched with 18,424 patients without colectomy using a 1:1 propensity score by age, sex, and comorbidity. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to assess the risk of CVD. Patients with colectomy were found to be at lower risk of CVD (hazard ratio HR: 0.95, 95% confidence interval CI = 0.90-0.99) than patients without colectomy. Stratified analysis according to the type of surgery revealed patients who underwent cecectomy and right hemicolectomy were at lower risk of CVD (cecectomy: adjusted HR aHR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64-0.94; right hemicolectomy: aHR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.82-0.96). Patients who underwent left hemicolectomy were at higher risk of CVD (aHR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.08-1.32). Our results indicate that the different colectomy procedures influence the risk for the CVD differently.
Abstract Purpose To identify the determinants of schizophrenia-specific HRQoL levels, five types of factors (i.e., sociodemographic, clinical, psychopathological, neurocognitive, and psychosocial ...factors) were simultaneously investigated in the same cross-sectional sample. Methods A total of 120 patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia but not spectrum conditions were recruited by convenience sampling. Subjective HRQoL levels were measured using the disease-specific S-QoL-C. After sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, psychopathological data were self-rated with the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and were assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) by professionally trained raters. Two neurocognitive assessments were conducted by licensed occupational therapists (OTs). Psychosocial factors were assessed using self-reports measures, including the, General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES), and Social Impact Scale (SIS). All measures were administered in random order. OTs, PANSS raters, and participants were blinded to score computation, and multiple hierarchical regression with the stepwise method was conducted. Results The S-QoL-C scores were most strongly affected by psychosocial factors and the psychopathological factors, followed by clinical and sociodemographic factors. Total scores on the BDI-II had the largest contributions to S-QoL-C index scores and seven of eight S-QoL-C subscales. In addition, the GSES, RSES, and SIS showed effects across the S-QoL-C subscales. The BDI-II, GSES, and RSES all influenced the S-QoL-C index scores, in addition to the number of hospitalizations. Conclusion Psychosocial factors and psychopathological factors measured by the BDI-II had the greatest impact on schizophrenia-specific HRQoL levels. Psychiatric treatment programs focusing on psychosocial status and depressive symptoms can improve schizophrenia-specific HRQoL levels.
Mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a rare malignancy of primary endobronchial lesions in children. Early diagnosis is crucial for the disease, but it is often misdiagnosed as asthma or lung infection. ...Chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy are the most important diagnostic tools. Surgical resection is the current treatment of choice for low-grade MEC. In the past, lobectomy, sleeve lobectomy, or segmental resections were the most standard surgeries. Endoscopic treatment was used for lung preservation and effectual removal of the lesions.
A retrospective study of pediatric patients with primary endobronchial lesions who underwent rigid bronchoscopic laser ablation since 2010 was conducted. Pre-operative images, endoscopic pictures, post-operative images, histological analyses, and patients’ clinical conditions were recorded and illustrated.
Four patients were enrolled. Three patients presented initially with cough or hemoptysis. The lesion sites were the bronchus of the left upper lobe, left lower lobe, left main bronchus, and trachea. All patients underwent bronchoscopic laser ablation for tumor excision without anatomical resection. No major surgical complications were encountered. All patients survived without recurrence after a mean postoperative follow-up of 4.5 years (3–6 years).
Video-assisted rigid endoscopic laser ablation for pediatric low-grade endobronchial MEC is a feasible, effective, and safe method. Close follow-up is essential for lung preservation management.
Level IV.
Case series with no comparison group.
Vanilla (Vanilla planifolia) is a precious natural flavoring that is commonly used throughout the world. In the past, all vanilla used in Taiwan was imported; however, recent breakthroughs in ...cultivation and processing technology have allowed Taiwan to produce its own supply of vanilla. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) combined with GC-FID and GC-MS was used to analyze the volatile components of vanilla from different origins produced in Taiwan under different cultivation and processing conditions. The results of our study revealed that when comparing different harvest maturities, the composition diversity and total volatile content were both higher when the pods were matured for more than 38 weeks. When comparing different killing conditions, we observed that the highest vanillin percentage was present after vanilla pods were killed three times in 65 °C treatments for 1 min each. From the experiment examining the addition of different strains, the PCA results revealed that the volatiles of vanilla that was processed with Dekkera bruxellensis and Bacillus subtilis was clearly distinguished from which obtained by processing with the other strains. Vanilla processed with B. subtilis contained 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, and this was not detected in other vanillas. Finally, when comparing the vanillin percentage from seven different regions in Taiwan, vanilla percentage from Taitung and Taoyuan Longtan were the highest.
Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitors broadly used for the control of hypercholesterolemia. Recently, they are reported to have beneficial effects on certain cancers. In ...this study, we show that statins inhibited the histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity and increased the accumulation of acetylated histone-H3 and the expression of p21(WAF/CIP) in human cancer cells. Computational modeling showed the direct interaction of the carboxylic acid moiety of statins with the catalytic site of HDAC2. In the subsequent enzymatic assay, it was shown that lovastatin inhibited HDAC2 activity competitively with a K(i) value of 31.6 micromol/L. Sp1 but not p53 sites were found to be the statins-responsive element shown by p21 luciferase-promoter assays. DNA affinity protein binding assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed the dissociation of HDAC1/2 and association of CBP, leading to the histone-H3 acetylation on the Sp1 sites of p21 promoter. In vitro cell proliferation and in vivo tumor growth were both inhibited by statins. These results suggest a novel mechanism for statins through abrogation of the HDAC activity and promoter histone-H3 acetylation to regulate p21 expression. Therefore, statins might serve as novel HDAC inhibitors for cancer therapy and chemoprevention.
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