Summary Extranodal natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type, is a predominantly extranodal lymphoma associated with Epstein-Barr virus occurring most frequently in the upper aerodigestive ...tract. There are limited reports on cellular origin and prognostic factors. We retrospectively investigated 73 cases with a median age of 54 years and a male-female ratio of 2.0:1. The upper aerodigestive tract (nasal group) was the most common site of involvement (51 cases; 70%). The other organs (n = 22; extranasal group) included the skin (12 cases; 16%) and gastrointestinal tract (5; 7%). Of the 70 cases with complete staging, 71% had stage I/II disease. All cases were positive for Epstein-Barr virus by in situ hybridization. Using immunohistochemistry and clonality assay for T-cell receptor gene rearrangement, these tumors were classified into NK (n = 39; 53%), T (n = 13; 18%), and indeterminate lineage (n = 21; 29%). The only clinicopathological difference among these 3 groups was rare CD5 expression in the NK-cell group. Nasal tumors were more frequently of NK-cell origin, and extranasal tumors were equally of either T- or NK-cell origin. The 5-year overall survival rate was 35.6%. The overall survival time was shorter in the extranasal group, although there was no statistical difference in age, sex, and histologic or immunophenotypic features between the 2 groups. Excluding the cases with indeterminate lineage, 75% of cases were of NK lineage; and 25%, T lineage. Extranasal tumors were more aggressive than their nasal counterparts. A prospective national study is warranted for a better understanding of the clinicopathological and genetic features of this uncommon tumor and the prognostic factors.
Homoepitaxial growth of (111)-oriented diamond films on the Au-coated and Ni-coated diamond substrates by microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been investigated. The process is ...involved with overgrowth of CVD diamond on Au and Ni islands formed by hydrogen plasma annealing of the 20 nm Au and Ni film coatings on diamond substrates. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations show that both of the Au and Ni islands as single crystallites are in epitaxy with diamond substrate and no diamond growth occurs on top of those islands in the early stage of diamond deposition. The overgrowth of diamond over the metal islands results in excellent coalescence to form a continuous film with a lower defect density than the film without the metal coating. With such Au and Ni islands, the film stress can be further relaxed as shown with Raman spectroscopy.
•(111) homoepitaxial diamond films were overgrown across Ni and Au islands.•The Ni and Au islands are in epitaxy with HPHT substrate after plasma annealing.•The crystallinity of diamond film with reduction of the defect density can be achieved by using ELO process.•With Ni islands the dislocation density and stress in the (111) diamond film can be more effectively reduced.
Background and aims
Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a valuable marker for identifying individuals at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction, liver-related ...complications, and cardiovascular disease. However, the association between MAFLD and testosterone deficiency (TD) in aging men remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the association between MAFLD and the risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, with a specific focus on those without metabolic syndrome (MetS).
Methods
A free health screening program was conducted for Taiwanese men aged over 40 years in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Participants underwent physical examinations, completed questionnaires regarding demographics, medical history, and clinical symptoms of TD, and provided 20-mL whole blood samples for biochemical, adipocytokine, and hormonal evaluations. Fatty liver index was used to evaluate the risk of fatty liver. Diagnostic criteria for MAFLD included fatty liver along with overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes, or evidence of metabolic dysregulation.
Results
A total of 631 men (mean age: 54.4 ± 8.4 years) were enrolled. The prevalence rates of TD and MetS were significantly higher in men with MAFLD compared to those without (both p < 0.001). Additionally, the presence of MAFLD showed a significant correlation with adipocytokines associated with insulin resistance, such as adiponectin, leptin, and retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP-4) levels (all p < 0.001). Among men without MetS, those with MAFLD had a 3.89- and 4.74-fold higher risk of total testosterone < 300 ng/dL and TD, respectively, after adjusting for potential covariates.
Conclusion
MAFLD is associated with an elevated risk of TD in aging Taiwanese men, particularly in the absence of MetS. This finding suggests that MAFLD could serve as an early predictor of TD, facilitating the identification of high-risk individuals and enabling timely interventions. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore the underlying mechanisms linking MAFLD, TD, and MetS in diverse populations.
•Divergence of clonal complex 59 (CC59) Staphylococcus aureus in Taiwan into two clades is estimated to be 1980s•Both of the two CC59 clades harbor the β-lactamase-producing plasmid, but the presence ...of virulence genes and antibiotic determinants are different•Acquisition of mobile genetic elements in the two clades reflects the history of antibiotic introduction in Taiwan
Clonal complex 59 (CC59) is the dominant community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strain in Taiwan and includes the Asian-Pacific clone with Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL)-negative/staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) IVg and the Taiwan clone characterised as PVL-positive/SCCmec V (5C2&5). Nevertheless, data on the evolutionary history of the two dominant CC59 MRSA clones in Taiwan are scarce. In this study, a total of 258 CC59 S. aureus strains from Taiwan were classified by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), which revealed two major clusters (MT1 and MT2) with distinct mobile genetic elements (MGEs). However, sequencing and PCR mapping of the β-lactamase-producing plasmid revealed no difference among all CC59 S. aureus strains. Bayesian evolutionary analysis of 18 of the CC59 S. aureus strains based on core genome alignment revealed two clades: (i) Clade A, which shared the samples with MT1, had the features of mainly harbouring gentamicin-resistant MES6272-2 or MES4578, φSA3 translocation in νSaβ and SCCmec IVg; and (ii) Clade B, which shared the samples with MT2, had the features of mainly harbouring streptomycin-resistant MESPM1, PVL phage and SCCmec V (5C2&5). Based on the time-calibrated phylogenetic tree, the estimated time of divergence of the two clades was in the 1980s. These results suggest that the CC59 S. aureus progenitor acquired a β-lactamase-producing plasmid and then developed the varied genetic backgrounds, which were associated with the acquisition and maintenance of distinct MGEs, leading to differences in antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and molecular virulence determinants.
The aim of the study was to estimate the prevalence, characteristics, and prognostic factors of interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM). The ...medical records of 151 PM/DM patients treated at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between January, 2000 and June, 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Thirty of 151 (19.9%) PM/DM patients had developed ILD. Older age at PM/DM onset, anti-Jo-1 antibody, and arthritis/arthralgia were associated with the presence of ILD (p = 0.004, p = 0.008, and p = 0.026, respectively). Anti-Jo-1 was initially excluded from the multivariate analysis because only 80 patients underwent the test. An older age at onset above 45 years (odds ratio 3.28, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.15-9.34, p = 0.026) and arthritis/arthralgia at onset (odds ratio (OR) 2.57, 95% CI 1.09-6.08, p = 0.032) were the two independent risk factors for developing ILD. If anti-Jo-1 was included in the multivariate analysis (n = 80), then an older age at onset above 45 years (OR 7.30, 95% CI 1.70-31.40, p = 0.008) and anti-Jo-1 positive (OR 7.89, 95% CI 1.18-52.87, p = 0.033) were associated with ILD, while arthritis/arthralgia was no longer significant (OR 2.64, 95% CI 0.70-10.01, p = 0.153). Of the 30 ILD patients, 16 (53.3%) died. The survival time was significantly shorter in ILD patients than in patients without ILD (p < 0.001). Poor survival in ILD patients was associated with male gender (p = 0.039), a Hamman-Rich-like presentation (p = 0.039), and a clinical diagnosis of acute interstitial pneumonia (p = 0.007).
Objectives: The neuroprotective effects of resveratrol against excitatory neurotoxicity have been associated with N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) inhibition. This study examined the ...differential inhibitory effects of resveratrol on NMDAR-mediated responses in neuronal cells with different NMDAR subtype composition.
Methods: The effects of resveratrol on NMDA-induced cell death and calcium influx in immature and mature rat primary cortical neurons were determined and compared. Moreover, the potencies and efficacies of resveratrol to inhibit NR1/NR2A, NR1/NR2B, NR1/NR2C, and NR1/NR2D NMDAR expressed in HEK 293 cells were evaluated.
Results: Resveratrol significantly attenuated NMDA-induced cell death in mature neurons, but not in immature neurons. Resveratrol also concentration-dependently reduced NMDA-induced calcium influx among all NMDAR subtypes, but displayed NR2 subunit selectivity, with a potency rank order of NR2B = NR2D > NR2A = NR2C and an efficacy rank order of NR2B = NR2C > NR2A = NR2D. Data show the stronger inhibitory effects of resveratrol on NR1/NR2B than other subtypes. Moreover, resveratrol did not affect hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP), but impaired long-term depression (LTD).
Discussion: These findings reveal the specific NMDAR modulating profile of resveratrol, providing further insight into potential mechanisms underlying the protective effects of resveratrol on neurological disorders.
Abstract Background Understanding mothers’ economic conditions and postpartum depression (PPD) is important for determining how they will take care of themselves and their infants during the ...postnatal period, especially for low-income families. This study examined the relationship between economic conditions and PPD to elucidate the effect of economic contraction on PPD. Methods Our population-based nationwide study used 2000-2013 the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. A total of 1240 newly diagnosed PPD patients were recruited. We used the database of the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics of Executive Yuan of Taiwan for national economic indicators. The correlation between economic indicators and PPD was examined. Results The PPD incidence was positively correlated with yearly unemployment rate, consumer price index, and gross domestic product. During the great recession of 2008–2009, PPD was positively correlated with inflation rate. Consumer price index had a positive correlation with PPD incidence per month when comparing PPD in 2010 with the economic indicators during the great recession. Limitations As this retrospective study evaluated macroeconomic indicators, it is unclear whether the macroeconomic indicators’ effect on PPD totally reflects the effect of true personal economic status on PPD. Conclusions There was a significant association between PPD and economic conditions. This study shows that mothers’ familial environment plays an important role in the development of PPD. The impact of the worldwide economic downturn of the great recession on women is persistent. This useful finding may give health policy planners a hint of early discovering and dealing with PPD when worldwide economic downturn
Anthraquinone-based intercalating compounds, namely doxorubicin and mitoxantrone, have been used clinically based on their capacity to bind DNA and induce DNA damage. However, their applications have ...been limited by side effects and drug resistance. New-generation anthraquinone derivatives fused with different heterocycles have been chemically synthesized and screened for higher anticancer potency. Among the compounds reported in our previous study, 4,11-bis(2-(2-chloroacetamidine)ethylamino)anthra2,3-bthiophene-5,10-dione dihydrochloride (designated 2c) was found to be apoptotic, but the direct cellular target responsible for the cytotoxicity remained unknown. Here, we report the synthesis and anticancer properties of two other derivatives, 4,11-bis(2-(2-chloroacetamidine)ethylamino)naphtho2,3-findole-5,10-dione dihydrochloride (2a) and 4,11-bis(2-(2-chloroacetamidine)ethylamino)-2-methylanthra2,3-bfuran-5,10-dione dihydrochloride (2b). We sought to identify and validate the protein target(s) of these derivatives in oral cancer cells, using molecular docking simulations and cellular thermal shift assays (CETSA). Our CETSA results illustrate that these derivatives targeted the tumor-associated NADH oxidase (tNOX, ENOX2), and their direct binding downregulated tNOX in p53-functional SAS and p53-mutated HSC-3 cells. Interestingly, the compounds targeted and downregulated tNOX to reduce SIRT1 deacetylase activity and increase Ku70 acetylation, which triggers c-Flip ubiquitination and induces apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Together, our data highlight the potential value of these heteroarene-fused anthraquinones in managing cancer by targeting tNOX and augmenting apoptosis.
A recent meta-analysis has shown inconclusive results on the effectiveness of traditional electroencephalography (EEG) neurofeedback training (NFT) protocols in changing EEG activity and improving ...sports performance. To enhance the effectiveness of EEG NFT protocols, we explored a new approach to EEG NFT, namely the function-specific instruction (FSI) approach. The basic tenet underpinning effective verbal instruction is to induce mental states as the verbal instructions consider the meaning of the brainwave function in the target region and the EEG power magnitude. This study aimed to test whether a single session of FSI is efficacious in improving frontal midline theta (FMT) activity and putting performance. Method: Thirty-six skilled golfers with a handicap of 14.05 ± 9.43 were recruited. A consecutive sampling method was used to form three groups: an FSI group (n = 12), a traditional instruction (TI) group (n = 12), and a sham control (SC) group (n = 12). In the pre- and post-tests, each participant performed 40 putts from a distance of 3 m, and the number of holed putts was recorded. The participants were asked to perform 50 trials in a single session of NFT. Putting performance improved significantly from before to after NFT in the FSI group. Moreover, the FSI group demonstrated a significant decrease in FMT power, whereas the SC group demonstrated a significant increase in FMT power from before to after NFT. These findings suggest that the FSI approach is more effective in enhancing sustained attention and putting performance in skilled golfers than TI.
•We examine if a new training scheme can be more effective to neurofeedback training.•The function-specific instruction approach benefits neurofeedback training.•Neurofeedback training with a new training scheme improves golf putting performance.
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