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Development and validation of a risk prediction model for chronic kidney disease among individuals with type 2 diabetes
No full text[[abstract]]Many studies had established the chronic kidney disease (CKD) prediction models, but most of them were conducted on the general population and not on patients with type 2 diabetes, especially in Asian populations. This study aimed to develop a risk prediction model for CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes from the Diabetes Care Management Program (DCMP) in Taiwan. This research was a retrospective cohort study. We used the DCMP database to set up a cohort of 4,601 patients with type 2 diabetes without CKD aged 40-92 years enrolled in the DCMP program of a Taichung medical center in 2002-2016. All patients were followed up until incidences of CKD, death, and loss to follow-up or 2016. The dataset for participants of national DCMP in 2002-2004 was used as external validation. The incident CKD cases were defined as having one of the following three conditions: ACR data greater than or equal to 300 (mg/g); both eGFR data less than 60 (ml/min/1.73 m2) and ACR data greater than or equal to 30 (mg/g); and eGFR data less than 45 (ml/min/1.73 m2). The study subjects were randomly allocated to derivation and validation sets at a 2:1 ratio. Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to identify the risk factors of CKD in the derivation set. Time-varying area under receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC) was used to evaluate the performance of the risk model. After an average of 3.8 years of follow-up period, 3,067 study subjects were included in the derivation set, and 786 (25.63%) were newly diagnosed CKD cases. A total of 1,534 participants were designated to the validation set, and 378 (24.64%) were newly diagnosed CKD cases. The final CKD risk factors consisted of age, duration of diabetes, insulin use, estimated glomerular filtration rate, albumin-to-creatinine ratio, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, diabetes retinopathy, variation in HbA1c, variation in FPG, and hypertension drug use. The AUC values of 1-, 3-, and 5-year CKD risks were 0.74, 0.76, and 0.77 in the validation set, respectively, and were 0.76, 0.77, and 0.76 in the sample for external validation, respectively. The value of Harrell's c-statistics was 0.76 (0.74, 0.78). The proposed model is the first CKD risk prediction model for type 2 diabetes patients in Taiwan. The 1-, 3-, and 5-year CKD risk prediction models showed good prediction accuracy. The model can be used as a guide for clinicians to develop medical plans for future CKD preventive intervention in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes
Medical use and costs for native fathers and children from transnational marriage families in Taiwan from 2004 to 2017Medical use and costs for native fathers and children from transnational marriage families in Taiwan from 2004 to 2017
No full text[[abstract]]Objectives: This is the first study to examine health care utilization in terms of medical use and costs in native fathers and children from transnational families.
Methods: Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was used to compare the annual medical use and inflation-adjusted medical cost for ambulatory care from 2004 to 2017 between native fathers and children from transnational and native families.
Results: Native fathers from transnational families had lower annual medical use (-0.23 visits) but higher total medical costs (New Taiwan dollars, NT -636), compared with those from native families.
Conclusions: There was different medical use and costs in transnational marriage families, possibly as a result of features in transnational marriage families. These findings provide insight for future health care policies to address the different health care utilization by exploring the unmet needs and barriers relating to children and fathers from transnational families
Risk of mortality in association with pregnancy in women following motor vehicle crashes: A systematic review and meta-analysis
No full text[[abstract]]The aim of the study was to provide a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the association between mortality risk and motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women. We used relevant MeSH terms to identify epidemiological studies of mortality risk in relation to MVCs from PubMed, Embase, and MEDLINE databases. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for quality assessment. For comparison of mortality from MVCs between pregnant and nonpregnant women, the pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using a random effects model. The eight studies selected met all inclusion criteria. These studies included 14,120 injured victims who were pregnant at the time of the incident and 207,935 victims who were not pregnant. Compared with nonpregnant women, pregnant women had a moderate but insignificant decrease in mortality risk (pooled OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.38-1.22, I2 = 88.71%). Subgroup analysis revealed that the pooled OR significantly increased at 1.64 (95% CI = 1.16-2.33, I2 < 0.01%) for two studies with a similar difference in the mean injury severity score (ISS) between pregnant and nonpregnant women. Future studies should further explore the risk factors associated with MVCs in pregnant women to reduce maternal mortality
Single Injection of Cross-Linked Hyaluronate in Knee Osteoarthritis: A 52-Week Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial
No full text[[abstract]]Background: to compare the 52-week effectiveness and safety between HYAJOINT Plus (HJP) and Durolane in knee osteoarthritis (OA) treatment.
Methods: consecutive patients received a single injection of 3 mL HJP or Durolane. The primary outcome was a visual analog scale (VAS) pain measurement at 26 weeks post-injection. Secondary outcomes included other clinical, satisfaction, and safety assessments for 52 weeks.
Results: 142 patients were equally randomized. At week 26, the HJP group had less VAS pain than the Durolane group (18.1 ± 9.5 versus 24.4 ± 14.0, p = 0.001). Both groups showed improvement in their VAS pain and stiffness scores, and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain and total scores for 52 weeks after injection (p < 0.001). However, the HJP group showed lower VAS pain and stiffness scores, reduced WOMAC pain and stiffness scores, a shorter Timed "Up & Go" (TUG) time, and a higher satisfaction score than the Durolane group for 39 weeks (p < 0.05). Only mild and self-limited adverse events occurred (40.8%).
Conclusion: While a single injection of either HJP or Durolane is safe and effective for at least 52 weeks, HJP provided superior improvement in terms of VAS pain and stiffness scores, WOMAC pain and stiffness scores, and satisfaction score within 39 weeks of treatment
Validation of coding algorithms for identifying people with viral hepatitis using claims data according to diferent standard references
No full text[[abstract]]Background: To assess the performance of various coding algorithms for identifying people with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using claims data according to different reference standards (RSs) and study periods (SPs).
Methods: A proportional random sampling of 10,000 patients aged ? 20 years in a health care system in Southern Taiwan were enrolled as study participants. We used three hierarchical RSs (RS1: having positive results of laboratory tests; R2: having RS1 or having prescriptions of anti-HBV or anti-HCV medications; R3: having R1 or R2 or having textual diagnosis recorded in electrical medical records) with three SPs (4-, 8-, and 12-years) to calculate positive predictive value (PPV) and sensitivity (Sen) of 6 coding algorithms using HBV- and HCV-related International Classification of Disease Tenth Revision Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) codes in Taiwan National Health Insurance claims data for years 2016-2019.
Results: Of 10,000 enrolled participants, the number of participants had confirmed HBV and HCV was 146 and 165, respectively according to RS1 with 4-years SP and increased to 729 and 525, respectively according to RS3 with 12-years SP. For both HBV and HCV, the PPV was lowest according to RS1 and highest according to RS3. The longer the SP, the higher the PPV. However, the Sen was highest according to RS2 with 4-years SP. For both HBV and HCV, the coding algorithm with highest PPV and Sen was " ? 3 outpatient codes" and " ? 2 outpatient or ? 1 inpatients codes," respectively.
Conclusions: In conclusion, using different RSs with different SPs would result in different estimation of PPV and Sen. To achieve the best yield of both PPV and Sen, the optimal coding algorithm is " ? 2 outpatients or ? 1 inpatients codes" for identifying people with HBV or HCV
Screening and identification of yeasts from fruits and their coculture for cider production
No full text[[abstract]]Coculturing non-Saccharomyces yeasts with Saccharomyces cerevisiae could enrich the aromatic complexity of alcoholic beverages during cider brewing. Therefore, the present study performed rapid strain screening via selective culture medium and aroma analysis and adopted a response surface methodology to optimize fermentation conditions to produce 2-phenylethyl acetate (PEA), which presents a rose and honey scent. The effects of coculturing yeasts on cider quality were evaluated through hedonic sensory analysis and the check-all-that-apply (CATA) method. Hanseniaspora vineae P5 and S. cerevisiae P1 produced ciders with high levels of PEA and 2-phenylethanol, respectively. The optimal fermentation process consisted of sequential inoculation with a 31 h delay between inoculations, followed by fermentation for 14.5 d at 18.7 °C, yielding 17.41 ± 0.51 mg/L of PEA, which was 4.6-fold higher than that obtained through the unoptimized fermentation process. Additionally, the CATA results revealed that the cider produced through coculturing was associated with descriptors such as “smooth taste”, “honey”, “pineapple”, and “fruity”, which can be attributed to the high ethyl acetate and PEA levels in the cider
遠距會審服務會計師事務所準備好了沒？
No full text[[abstract]]本研究旨在調查會計師事務所從業人員在疫情結束後繼續使用線上會議平台之影響因素。在科技接受模式基礎上，本研究將認知風險、個人創新、口碑與使用滿意整合到模型中，並檢測這些前因變數與續用意願之間的直接與間接關係，進而調整實證模型，以測試新模型的穩健性。研究結果發現會審人員的教育程度、個人創新與線上會議使用滿意是疫情後願意繼續使用線上會議的重要驅動因素。其次，會審人員的認知有用、認知易用與認知風險，對使用滿意有直接積極影響，並在疫情結束後，對線上會議的續用意願有間接影響。最後，證實科技接受模型在解釋疫情後會審人員續用線上會議意願方面有效。[[abstract]]The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that influence the intention of continue using online meeting platforms (OMP) to employees of accounting firms in the post COVID-19. Based on the TAM, it integrates perceived risk, personal innovativeness, word-of-mouth, and user satisfaction into the model, and detects the direct and indirect relationship between these antecedent variables and IoCU, and then adjusts the empirical model and tests Robustness of the new model. The finding is that education, personal innovativeness and user satisfaction are important factors for the willingness to continue using OMP after the epidemic. Secondly, user's perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, and perceived risk have a direct significantly impact on user satisfaction, and will have an indirect impact on the intention of continue using OMP after COVID-19. Finally, it is confirmed that the technology acceptance model is effective in explaining the intention of continue using OMP after COVID-19 for employees of accounting firms
Anticancer effects of picrasidine I on oral squamous cell carcinoma
No full text[[abstract]]Picrasidine I is a dimeric alkaloid derived from a Southern Asian plant Picrasma quassioides and demonstrated to possess pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and anti-osteoclastogenic effects. However, its potential anticancer effect remains unclear. In the present study, anticancer activity of picrasidine I was assessed by treating oral squamous cell carcinoma cells with different concentrations of picrasidine I (20, 30, and 40 μM) for 24, 48, and 72 h. The findings revealed that picrasidine I reduced the cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. Picrasidine I exerted its cytotoxic effect through arresting cell cycle at G2/M phase by downregulating cyclin A, cyclin B, CDK4, and CDK6, and inducing apoptosis in oral cancer cells. The induction of apoptosis was evidenced by increasing expression of death receptors, disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential, increased activation of PARP and caspases 3, 8, and 9, enhanced expression of proapoptotic mediators (Bak and Bim L/S), and reduced expression of antiapoptotic mediators (Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL). Moreover, analysis of MAPK signaling pathway revealed that picrasidine I-mediated proapoptotic activities by downregulating JNK phosphorylation. Taken together, the study identifies picrasidine I as a potent anticancer agent that can be used as a therapeutic intervention against oral squamous cell carcinoma
Artemisia argyi extract induces apoptosis in human gemcitabine-resistant lung cancer cells via the PI3K/MAPK signaling pathway
No full text[[abstract]]Ethnopharmacological relevance: Artemisia argyi H. L?v. & Vaniot (Asteraceae), also called "Chinese mugwort", is frequently used as a herbal medicine in China, Japan, Korea, and eastern parts of Russia. It is known as "ai ye" in China and "Gaiyou" in Japan. In ancient China, the buds and leaves of A. argyi were commonly consumed before and after Tomb-sweeping Day. It is used to treat malaria, hepatitis, cancer, inflammatory diseases, asthma, irregular menstrual cycle, sinusitis, and pathologic conditions of the kidney and liver. Although A. argyi extract (AAE) has shown anti-tumor activity against various cancers, the therapeutic effect and molecular mechanism of AAE remains to be further studied in lung cancer.
Aim of the study: This study aimed to demonstrate the anti-tumor effect of AAE and its associated biological mechanisms in CL1-0 parent and gemcitabine-resistant (CL1-0-GR) lung cancer cells.
Experimental procedure: Human lung cancer cells CL1-0 and CL1-0-GR cells were treated with AAE. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT, colony, and spheroid formation assays. Migration, invasion, and immunofluorescence staining were used to determine the extent of epithelial- mesenchymal transition (EMT). JC-1 and MitoSOX fluorescent assays were performed to investigate the effect of AAE on mitochondria. Apoptosis was detected using the TUNEL assay and flow cytometry with Annexin V staining.
Result: We found that A. argyi significantly decreased cell viability and induced apoptosis, accompanied by mitochondrial membrane depolarization and increased ROS levels in both parent cells (CL1-0) and gemcitabine-resistant lung cancer cells (CL1-0-GR). AAE-induced apoptosis is regulated via the PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways. It also prevents CL1-0 and CL1-0-GR cancer cell invasion, migration, EMT, colony formation, and spheroid formation. In addition, AAE acts cooperative with commercial chemotherapy drugs to enhance tumor spheroid shrinkage.
Conclusion: Our study provides the first evidence that A. argyi treatment suppresses both parent and gemcitabine-resistant lung cancer cells by inducing ROS, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and apoptosis, and reducing EMT. Our finding provides insights into the anti-cancer activity of A. argyi and suggests that A. argyi may serve as a chemotherapy adjuvant that potentiates the efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents
Bisphenol A induced apoptosis via oxidative stress generation involved Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and mitochondrial dependent pathways in human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells
No full text[[abstract]]Bisphenol A (BPA) is an estrogen-like compound, and an environmental hormone, that is commonly used in daily life. Therefore, it may enter the human body through food or direct contact, causing BPA residues in blood and urine. Because most studies focused on the analysis of BPA in reproductive cells or tissues, regarding evidence the effect of BPA on human retinal pigment epithelium (ARPE-19) cells unavailable. Accordingly, the present study explored the cytotoxicity of BPA on ARPE-19 cells. After BPA treatment, the expression of Bcl-XL an antiapoptotic protein, in the mitochondria decreased, and the expression of Bax, a proapoptotic protein increased. Then the mitochondrial membrane potential was affected. BPA changed in mitochondrial membrane potential led to the release of cytochrome C, which activated caspase-9 to promote downstream caspase-3 leading to cytotoxicity. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) pathway play a major role in age-related macular degeneration. Our results showed that expression of HO-1 and Nrf2 suppressed by BPA. Superoxide dismutase and catalase, which Nrf2 downstream antioxidants, were degraded by BPA. AMP-activated kinase (AMPK), which can regulate the phosphorylation of Nrf2, and the phosphorylation of AMPK expression was reduced by BPA. Finally, BPA-induced ROS generation and cytotoxicity were reduced by N-acetyl-l-cysteine. Taken together, these results suggest that BPA induced ARPE-19 cells via oxidative stress, which was associated with down regulated Nrf2/HO-1 pathway, and the mitochondria dependent apoptotic signaling pathway