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Bilateral optic disc edema as a possible complication of cabozantinib use–a case report
No full text[[abstract]]Introduction: Cabozantinib, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor widely used in the treatment of metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma. To date, no ocular adverse events have been reported by the FDA or on the package label. Here, we described a patient with metastatic RCC who developed bilateral optic disc edema after a 4-month course of cabozantinib.
Case description: A 55-year-old ethnic Chinese male with RCC with multiple metastases presented to our department with progressive blurred vision in both eyes for 1 month. He started taking cabozantinib 60 mg once daily 5 months prior to this presentation. Poor visual acuity and bilateral disc edema were then noted. Cabozantinib was discontinued after that, and 3-day pulse steroid therapy with methylprednisolone 1 g/day was given. The optic disc edema subsided gradually with limited improvement in visual acuity.
Conclusion: Bilateral optic edema should be considered as a complication associated with cabozantinib. We propose discontinuation of the treatment in cases such as that, and pulse steroid therapy should be considered if there is no contraindication
Evaluation of detoxified sugarcane bagasse hydrolysate by atmospheric cold plasma for bacterial cellulose production
No full text[[abstract]]Cellulosic waste as a major type of agricultural waste can be acid deconstructed as a carbon source for fermentation application. However, various fermented inhibitors, such as formic acid, furfural, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, are also produced during processing. In this study, sugarcane bagasse (SB) was hydrolyzed with sulfuric acid, and atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) was used to remove the toxic inhibitors. The detoxified SB hydrolysate was used as alternative nutrients for bacterial cellulose (BC) production. Results showed that degradation rates of formic acid, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, and furfural respectively reached 25.2%, 78.6%, and 100% with optimized ACP conditions (argon ACP at 200 W for 25 min). In BC production, the ACP-treated SB hydrolysate group (PT) exhibited high BC production (1.68 g/L) but was lower than that from the ACP-untreated SB hydrolysate group (PUT) (1.88 g/L), which suggests that ACP detoxification might also cause some crucial nutrients loss of the SB hydrolysate, leading to a decrease in BC production. The material properties of BC produced from detoxified based medium are also evaluated. These findings have important implications for the broader domain of ACP detoxification for cellulosic acid hydrolysates applied to BC production
Particulate matter 2.5 exposure induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition via PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway in human retinal pigment epithelial ARPE-19 cells
No full text[[abstract]]Exposure to particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) has been linked to ocular surface diseases, yet knowledge of the molecular mechanism impacted on retina pathogenesis is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore the effects and involved factors of PM2.5 exposure in human retinal pigment epithelial APRE-19 cells. Our data revealed a decreased cell viability and an increased migratory ability in APRE-19 cells after PM2.5 stimulation. The MMP-2 and MMP-9 protein levels were markedly increased while the MMPs regulators TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were significantly reduced in PM2.5-exposed APRE-19 cells. PM2.5 also increased pro-MMP-2 expression in the cell culture supernatants. Additionally, PM2.5 promoted the EMT markers through the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, the ICAM-1 production was also remarkably increased by PM2.5 but reduced by PI3K/AKT inhibitor LY294002 in APRE-19 cells. Taken together, these results suggest that PM2.5 promotes EMT in a PI3K/AKT/mTOR-dependent manner in the retinal pigment epithelium
The Establishment of a Noninvasive Bioluminescence-Specific Viral Encephalitis Model by Pseudorabies Virus-Infected NF- Bp-Luciferase Mice
No full text[[abstract]]Encephalitis is a rare brain inflammation that is most commonly caused by a viral infection. In this study, we first use an in vivo imaging system (IVIS) to determine whether NF-κBp-luciferase expression could be detected in the brain of pseudorabies virus (PRV)-infected NF-κBp-luciferase mice and to evaluate proinflammatory mediators in a well-described mouse model of PRV encephalitis. In in vitro studies, we used murine microglia (BV-2) cells to demonstrate the PRV-induced encephalitis model entailing the activation of microglia cells. The results indicate that PRV-induced neuroinflammation responses through the induction of IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, and iNOS expression occurred via the regulation of NF-κB expression in BV-2 cells. In in vivo studies, compared with MOCK controls, the mice infected with neurovirulent PRV exhibited significantly elevated NF-κB transcription factor activity and luciferase protein expression only in the brain by IVIS. Mild focal necrosis was also observed in the brain. Further examination revealed biomarkers of inflammation, including inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6, both of which constituted proinflammatory cytokines. PRV infection stimulated inflammation and COX-2 and iNOS expression of IL-6 and TNF-α. The presented results herein suggest that PRV induces iNOS and COX-2 expression in the brain of NF-κBp-luciferase mice via NF-κB activation. In conclusion, we used NF-κBp-luciferase mice to establish a specific virus-induced encephalitis model via PRV intranasal infection. In the future, this in vivo model will provide potential targets for the development of new therapeutic strategies focusing on NF-κB inflammatory biomarkers and the development of drugs for viral inflammatory diseases
跨國藝術博覽會的文化政治：以香港巴塞爾藝博會為例
No full text[[abstract]]藝術博覽會作為一展覽與活動事件，實為一種複雜的文化空間與符號文本，牽涉文化部署與再現政治。在全球化動力與競爭下，西方藝博會權力中心Art Basel挾帶豐沛商業能量以及全球場域的高階權力在香港建立Art Basel Hong Kong。本文透過田野研究分析ABHK的展會機制運作、篩選制度、空間政治、符號再現等面向，揭露西方跨國藝博會如何運作微觀權力，在亞洲進行符號、品味與價格的再生產，重編全球與亞洲藝術市場的秩序，顯露西方中心與資本集中之跨國世界觀，並以藝博會為媒介操弄觀眾對符號意義的判讀，致使亞洲地區藝術消費品味朝向西方偏移的傾向。[[abstract]]As an exhibition and event, an art fair is a complicated cultural space and symbolic text, involving cultural deployment and political representation. Under the dynamics and competition of globalization, Art Basel, the power center of Western art fairs, has established Art Basel Hong Kong with abundant commercial energy and high-level power in the global field. This article analyzes ABHK's exhibition mechanism, selection system, space politics, symbolic representation, and other aspects through field study. It also exposes how the western multinational art fair operates micro-power, reproduces symbols, tastes, and prices in Asia, and reorganizes the market order of global and Asian art. The operation reveals the transnational worldview of Western centers and the concentration of capital, and uses art fairs as a medium to manipulate the audience's interpretation of the meaning of symbols, which has led to a situation where the taste of art consumption in Asia is shifting toward the West
COVID-19期間智慧家庭需求之調查
No full text[[abstract]]智慧家庭是物聯網科技的一種應用，可提供家庭更舒適與便利的居住環境。此科技已存在多年，但尚未廣泛普及，且社會福祉潛力在某程度上被低估。然而COVID-19全球大流行，台灣商業與教育部門實施居家彈性工作與學習，民眾對於智慧家庭科技需求急遽上升。本研究目的在發展一個綜合理論模型，更好解釋疫情期間民眾對於智慧家庭科技續購意願差異的來源。為此，我們整合科技接受模型、創新擴散理論和消費者認知創新構念，提出一個整合式研究模型，並透過結構方程統計模型對384位民眾的調查數據進行統計驗證。資料分析結果顯示，認知有用、可相容性和可觀察性是疫情期間影響民眾採用智慧家庭科技的重要決定因素。此外，此整合式理論模型可解釋智慧家庭科技民眾續購意願約60%的變異。因此，本研究可對台灣智慧家庭科技接受文獻與產業管理實務做出貢獻與建議。[[abstract]]Smart home technology is an application of IoT, which can provide comfortable and convenient environment for families. The technology has existed for many years, but it has not been widely accepted before COVID-19. However, with the global pandemic of COVID-19, business and education institutions have implemented flexible work and study from home, and thus the demand for smart home technology has increased sharply. The purpose on this study is to develop a comprehensive model to better explain the sources of variance in the intention to repurchase smart home technology during the epidemic. To do so, we integrated the constructs from technology acceptance model, innovation diffusion theory, and consumer perceived innovativeness to propose a conceptual model and validate it through the structural equation statistical model on the survey data of 384 respondents. The results show that perceived usefulness, compatibility, and observability are important determinants that affect repurchase intention of smart home technology during the epidemic. In addition, this integrated conceptual model can explain about 60% of the variance in the intention to repurchase smart home technology. Therefore, this paper can make contributions to the literature of smart home technology acceptance for Taiwanese and suggestion to industry management practices
為粉絲經濟裝上Fintech翅膀─明星NFT
No full text[[abstract]]非同質化代幣（NFT）與Bitcoin、Ether和Litecoin等加密貨幣都是區塊鏈技術的創新商品，近年陸續引進全球交易市場並讓粉絲經濟有了Fintech元素。然而，台灣粉絲經濟收藏者對於這些線上虛擬金融商品的認識與接受度至今仍然很低，且對相關交易平台存在相當程度的誤解。本文旨在通過調查影響大學生未來對區塊鏈明星NFT產品的接受態度與行為因素，以評估NFT產品在台灣粉絲經濟產業的發展潛力。鑑於區塊鏈技術和NFT產品設計的複雜性，本研究以科技接受模型（TAM）為基礎，搭配符合明星NFT產品特徵，包括信任、監管支持、社群影響、設計誘因和科技知識等特定變因，提出一個整合性模型，並對台灣大學生進行調查，以確定這些構念對其NFT使用意圖的影響。研究結果發現除假說三與假說七外，其餘假說皆獲得實證支持。首先，社群影響和監管支持會正向影響大學生對明星NFT的信任水準。其次，設計誘因會影響認知易用程度。再者，社群影響與認知易用會同時影響認知有用。此外，信任與認知有用對明星NFT的接受態度有顯著影響。最後，大學生的接受態度會顯著影響投資明星NFT的行為意圖。[[abstract]]Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ether, Litecoin and Non-Fungible Tokens are innovative products of the Fintech blockchain. In recent years, they have been introduced into the global trading market and changed fan economics. However, Taiwanese investors' awareness and acceptance of these financial instruments are still very low. This paper aims to evaluate the development potential of NFT in Taiwan by investigating the factors that affect college students' acceptance attitudes and behaviors towards NFT. In view of the complexity of blockchain technology and NFT design, this study is based on the TAM, which matches the characteristics of NFT, including trust, regulatory support, social influence, design and knowledge, etc. An integrative model is proposed, and a survey of Taiwanese university students is conducted to determine the impact of these constructs on their NFT buying intentions. Finally, we found that, except for Hypotheses 3 and 7, all the other hypotheses were supported by empirical data. First, regulatory support and social influence will positively affect the trust of college students in star NFTs. Second, design affect perceived ease of use significantly. Furthermore, social influence and perceived ease of use will affect perceived usefulness at the same time. In addition, trust and perceived usefulness have a significant impact on the attitude of star NFTs. Finally, the attitude of college students will significantly affect the behavioral intentions of investment star NFTs
疫情年代 你適合社群團購嗎？
No full text[[abstract]]近期研究表明，消費決策風格與消費涉入是理解線上團購續購意願的關鍵因素，但很少研究者對消費涉入的中介影響進行探索。本研究目的在測試台灣消費者的決策風格，包括品質完美型、品牌偏好型、新穎流行型、休閒享樂型、物超所值型、忠誠習慣型、衝動購物型和選擇困擾型等八種，是否會透過團購社群涉入而對線上社群團購續購意願產生間接影響。其次，我們邀請有社群團購經驗的台灣消費者協助填答，並採線上問卷與便利抽樣方式取得數據。且利用SPSS & SmartPLS統計軟體進行分析。實證結果發現，團購社群涉入在休閒享樂決策風格消費者對社群團購續購意願的影響中，扮演著關鍵中介的角色。而新穎流行、休閒享樂與忠誠習慣決策風格的消費者對於團購續購意願有直接顯著的影響。[[abstract]]Recent researches have discussed consumer decision-making styles and consumer involvement as crucial factors in understanding group buying in social media, but none has analyzed their collective impact. This study designs consumer involvement as the mediator in the relationship between consumer decision-making styles and their intention to continue online group buying in social media. The results show that involvement significantly mediates the relationships between the recreational, hedonistic consumer decision-making styles and their intention to continuous buying. Interestingly, the novelty-fashion conscious; recreational, hedonistic; habitual, brand loyal decision-making styles show significant direct effects but no mediation through involvement
Angiotensin II prompts heart cell apoptosis via AT1 receptor-augmented phosphatase and tensin homolog and miR-320-3p functions to enhance suppression of the IGF1R-PI3K-AKT survival pathway
No full text[[abstract]]Background: Hypertension is a severe public health risk factor worldwide. Elevated angiotensin II (Ang II) produced by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system can lead to hypertension and its complications.
Method: In this study, we addressed the cardiac-injury effects of Ang II and investigated the signaling mechanism induced by Ang II. Both H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells and neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to Ang II to observe hypertension-related cardiac apoptosis.
Results: The results of western blotting revealed that Ang II significantly attenuated the IGF1R-PI3K-AKT pathway via the Ang II-AT1 receptor axis and phosphatase and tensin homolog expression. Furthermore, real-time PCR showed that Ang II also activated miR-320-3p transcription to repress the PI3K-Akt pathway. In the heart tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats, activation of the IGF1R survival pathway was also reduced compared with that in Wistar-Kyoto rats, especially in aged spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Conclusion: Hence, we speculate that the Ang II-AT1 receptor axis induces both phosphatase and tensin homolog and miR-320-3p expression to downregulate the IGF1R-PI3K-AKT survival pathway and cause cell apoptosis in the heart
Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker Irbesartan Enhanced SIRT1 longevity Signaling Replaces the Mitochondrial Biogenetic Survival Pathway to Attenuate Hypertension-Induced Heart Apoptosis
No full text[[abstract]]Background: The present study investigated whether angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker irbesartan (ARB) and partial agonist of PPAR-γ prevents heart apoptosis by suppressing cardiac Fas/FasL-mediated to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in the hearts of hypertensive rat model.
Methods: Cardiac function using echocardiography, H&E staining, TUNEL assay, and Western blotting were measured in the excised hearts from three groups, i.e., an untreated hypertensive group (SHR), an ARB-treated hypertensive group (50 mg/kg/day, S.C., SHR-ARB), and untreated normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY).
Results: Fas Ligand, Fas death receptors, FADD, active caspase-8, active caspase-3 (Fas/FasL-mediated apoptotic pathway), as well as Bax, cytochrome c, active caspase-9 and -3 (mitochondria-mediated apoptotic pathway), IGF-II, and p-JNK were decreased in SHR-ARB group when compared with the SHR group. SIRT1, PGC-1α, Bcl2, and Bcl-xL (SIRT1/PGC-1α pro-survival pathway) were increased in the SHR-ARB group when compared with the SHR group.
Conclusions: Our findings suggested that the ARB might prevent cardiac Fas/FasL-mediated to mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway in the hypertensive model associated with IGF-II, p-JNK deactivation, and SIRT1/PGC-1α pro-survival pathway upregulation. ARB prevents hypertension-enhanced cardiac apoptosis via enhancing SIRT1 longevity signaling and enhances the mitochondrial biogenetic survival pathway