Development and validation of a novel combinational index of liquid biopsy biomarker for longitudinal lung cancer patient management.

Objectives: Many cancer biomarkers such as the circulating tumor cells/microemboli (CTCs/CTM) have been reported significant associations with clinical outcomes. However, different biomarkers have different sensitivities and specificities for cancer types and cohort patients, and synergistic effects between certain biomarkers have also been observed, leading to the inaccurate, fluctuating, and even controversial results when multiple biomarkers are analyzed together. In this paper, a novel combinational index, P-score, was developed for monitoring and predicting the disease condition of lung cancer patients during follow-up visits.

Urine Phthalate Metabolites are Elevated in Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Associated with Advanced Cancer Stage and Poor Survival.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of phthalate in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Methods: A total of 116 ESCC patients and 58 controls without any known histories of malignancies were enrolled. All eight urine phthalate metabolites were measured to assess phthalate levels.

Urinary levels of organophosphate flame retardants metabolites in a young population from Southern Taiwan and potential health effects.

Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are widely distributed in the environment and their metabolites are observed in urine, but little is known regarding OPFRs in a broad-spectrum young population from newborns to those aged 18 years.

Objectives: Investigate urinary levels of OPFRs and OPFR metabolites in Taiwanese infants, young children, schoolchildren, and adolescents within the general population.

Methods: Different age groups of subjects (n=136) were recruited from southern Taiwan to detect 10 OPFR metabolites in urine samples.

Microtube Array Membrane Hollow Fiber Assay (MTAM-HFA)-An Accurate and Rapid Potential Companion Diagnostic and Pharmacological Interrogation Solution for Cancer Immunotherapy (PD-1/PD-L1).

Immunotherapy is one of the most promising forms of cancer treatment. In particular, immune checkpoint blockers (ICBs) represent some of the leading candidates which many drug developers have heavily invested in. During pre-clinical development and prior to human clinical trials, animal tests are a critical component for determining the safety and efficacy of newly developed ICBs for cancer treatment.

Clinical Experience with Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b in the Off-Label Use for the Treatment of COVID-19 Patients in Taiwan.

Introduction: This study, for the first time to our knowledge, evaluated the efficacy of ropeginterferon alfa-2b, a long-acting pegylated interferon (IFN)-alfa, in the treatment of COVID-19.

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated ropeginterferon alfa-2b administered subcutaneously at a single dose of 250 µg for the treatment of mild and moderate COVID-19. Primary outcome was to compare the overall negative conversion time from the confirmed, last positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR to the first RT-PCR negative conversion between patients receiving ropeginterferon alfa-2b plus standard of care (SOC) and those receiving SOC alone.

Exosome-derived microRNAs in oral squamous cell carcinomas impact disease prognosis.

Objectives: microRNA (miRNA) expression patterns have provided new insight as biomarkers of prognosis as well as novel therapeutic targets for several neoplasms. However, the role of exosomal miRNA in the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has not yet been completely clarified. Paired primary tumor and normal oral epithelial cells from OSCC patients were obtained, and the exosomal miRNA profiles between them were compared by miRNA microarray analysis.

Towards Wearable and Flexible Sensors and Circuits Integration for Stress Monitoring.

Excessive stress is one of the main causes of mental illness. Long-term exposure of stress could affect one's physiological wellbeing (such as hypertension) and psychological condition (such as depression). Multisensory information such as heart rate variability (HRV) and pH can provide suitable information about mental and physical stress.

Analysis of nurse practitioner scope of practice in Taiwan using the Longest policy cycle model.

Background And Purpose: To date, there has been no policy analysis or review of the effectiveness of the current nurse practitioner (NP) scope of practice regulations in Taiwan. The purpose is of this article was to provide a policy analysis of NP scope of practice regulations in Taiwan.

Methods: The Longest policy cycle model was used to analyze the NP scope of practice regulations.

Circulating CD105 shows significant impact in patients of oral cancer and promotes malignancy of cancer cells via CCL20.

CD105 is rich in endothelium cells and is involved in angiogenesis. Higher microvascular density of tumor is also related to the prognosis in a variety of cancers. In this present study, patients with positive N classification, advanced T classification, advanced TNM stage, extracapsular spread of lymph nodes (ECS), and perineural invasion had significantly higher levels of peripheral vein (pCD105) and venous return from tumor (tCD105) in 71 patients with OSCC compared to 13 healthy volunteers.

Enhanced accuracy of optical platelet counts in microcytic anemia.

Objective: To determine whether microcytic erythrocytes influence the accuracy of automated platelet (PLT) counting.

Methods: We divided a total of 206 K2 ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)-anticoagulated blood samples into 4 groups, as follows: In group 1 (control group), normal mean corpuscular volume (MCV > 80 fL) and PLT count equal or greater than 140,000/microL (n = 45); group 2, normal MCV, reduced PLT count (< 140 x 10(3)/microL, n = 41); group 3, microcytic samples with normal PLT count (n = 68); and group 4, microcytic samples with reduced PLT count (n = 49). We also compared the platelet counting using electroimpedance (PLT-EI), platelet count using fluorescent optical (PLT-FO), and platelet-count manual (PLT-M) methods, using the Sysmex XE 2100 automatic analyzer.

EBV-encoded small RNA1 and nonresolving inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by perpetuated inflammation in multiple joints. To date, there is no cure for RA, and the causal factor for non-resolving inflammation in RA remains unclear. In this study, we initially observed expression of Epstein-Barr virus-encoded small RNA1 (EBER1) in the synovial tissue of all five patients who showed nonresolving RA inflammation.

Endotoxin and CD14 in the progression of biliary atresia.

Background: Biliary atresia (BA) is a typical cholestatic neonatal disease, characterized by obliteration of intra- and/or extra-hepatic bile ducts. However, the mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of BA remain uncertain. Because of decreased bile flow, infectious complications and damaging endotoxemia occur frequently in patients with BA.

Prognostic impact of p16, p53, epidermal growth factor receptor, and human papillomavirus in oropharyngeal cancer in a betel nut-chewing area.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and the prognostic significance of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p53, and p16 among patients with oropharyngeal carcinoma.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Academic Institute of Otolaryngology, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.

Simultaneous determination of residual thiamphenicol and florfenicol in foods of animal origin by HPLC/electrospray ionization-MS/MS.

A simple and reliable method using HPLC/MS/MS has been developed for determination of thiamphenicol and florfenicol in foods of animal origin, such as pork, porcine liver, porcine kidney, beef, bovine liver, fish, and chicken. The HPLC separation was performed on a Waters XTerra phenyl column (100 x 2.1 mm, 3.

Estrogen receptor overexpression in malignant minor salivary gland tumors of the sinonasal tract.

Objectives: To identify the expression of estrogen receptors in malignant minor salivary gland tumors of the sinonasal tract.

Study Design: Case series with chart review.

Subjects And Methods: A retrospective review of a pathology database identified 17 patients with malignant salivary gland tumors between December 1987 and January 2006.

Comprehensive study on the prognostic role of osteopontin expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Osteopontin is a tumor-associated protein that promotes tumor development and metastasis. The preoperative blood samples of 94 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and 28 healthy individuals were analyzed for plasma osteopontin levels, and another 256 paraffin-embedded OSCC specimens were analyzed by osteopontin immunostaining. The patients with advanced tumor (T) stage (T3/T4 vs.

The impact of virus in N3 node dissection for head and neck cancer.

This study is to determine the impact of virus in surgical outcomes among patients of head and neck cancer with N3 lymph node metastasis. A retrospective analysis was conducted for 32 patients with operable N3 neck metastasis undergoing surgical treatment between January 1987 and October 2006. The nuclei of the tumor cells were investigated for the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNAs and were taken into account as the variable for survival analysis.

Clinical significance of osteopontin expression in T1 and T2 tongue cancers.

Background: Osteopontin (OPN) is considered to be a tumor-related protein associated with tumor aggressiveness and metastasis.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to study the clinical significance of OPN expression in T1 and T2 tongue cancers.

Results: Positive OPN expression significantly correlated with higher tumor classification (T) (p = .

Angiopoietin-1 and -2 expression in recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.

Background And Objectives: Our objective was to evaluate the clinical significance of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Ang-2 expression in recurrent but operable squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (OCSCC).

Patients And Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 40 patients who underwent surgical intervention for local or local-regional recurrent OCSCC between 1995 and 2005 were immunohistochemically analyzed for Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression.

Results: The recurrent TNM staging classified 5 patients as stage I, 4 as stage II, 2 as stage III, and 29 as stage IV.

Lower prevalence but favorable survival for human papillomavirus-related squamous cell carcinoma of tonsil in Taiwan.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is frequently detected in squamous cell carcinoma of tonsil (TSCC) among the Western population. However, the only reported study on Chinese patients in the English literature demonstrated absence of HPV in TSCC. To evaluate the prevalence and clinical significance of HPV-related TSCC in Taiwan, we performed PCR with MY09/MY11 consensus primers and in situ hybridization to study 111 TSCC samples.

A PKC-Sp1 signaling pathway induces early differentiation of human keratinocytes through upregulation of TSG101.

The TSG101 protein has been implicated in multiple biological functions including regulation of gene transcription, vesicular trafficking, cellular growth and differentiation. However, the cellular signals that control TSG101 functions are unclear. Here, we demonstrate that TSG101 is upregulated during keratinocyte differentiation in both human foreskin tissue and reconstructed organotypic skin cultures.

Glucocorticoid pretreatment suppresses chemokine expression and inflammatory cell infiltration in cholestatic rats receiving biliary intervention.

Aim: Biliary intervention may augment chemokine expression and inflammatory cell infiltration and aggravates liver injury in cholestatic rats. We tested the efficacy of glucocorticoid pretreatment to prevent the complications.

Methods: A model of biliary intervention was established in rats without (sham) or with bile duct ligation (BDL).

High expressions of CD105 and VEGF in early oral cancer predict potential cervical metastasis.

Background And Objectives: Although elective neck dissection has become a popular treatment modality for early oral cancer among most head and neck surgeons, a large portion of patients revealed pathological N0 postoperatively. Our study is aimed to evaluate the expressions of the angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and CD105 (endoglin) on the prediction of neck metastasis for clinical N0 patients in early oral cancer.

Patients And Methods: Between July 1996 and July 2005, the preoperative biopsy specimens among 176 patients who underwent surgical treatment for early oral cancer were retrieved for the immunohistochemical study for VEGF and CD105.

High expression of CD105 as a prognostic predictor of early tongue cancer.

Objectives: The purpose of this article is to investigate the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endoglin (CD105) in the biopsy tissues of squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue in early tumor stages and their relationship with the clinicopathologic features.

Study Design And Methods: The authors conducted retrospective clinical and biologic studies. Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expressions of VEGF and CD105 in the biopsy tissues taken from 94 patients with T1 and T2 tongue cancers.

Matrilysin (MMP-7) is a major matrix metalloproteinase upregulated in biliary atresia-associated liver fibrosis.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are the proteases responsible for tissue remodeling during liver fibrosis caused by various disorders including biliary atresia. However, information regarding the relative contribution of these proteases to liver fibrosis is still limited. We studied matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), -7, -9 and -13 mRNA expressions in the liver tissue of early-stage biliary atresia at the time of Kasai's procedure, late-stage biliary atresia at the time of liver transplantation with advanced fibrosis and nondiseased control without liver fibrosis.