Publications by authors named "Liang-Jen Wang"

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children and adolescents. Due to the limited availability of postmortem brain tissue, most gene expression studies in ADHD have relied on bulk RNA profiling of total white blood cells (WBCs). However, this approach obscures cell-type-specific expression patterns and limits insights into the roles of distinct leukocyte subsets in ADHD pathophysiology.

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Background: In our previous research, we identified five candidate proteins-Carbonic Anhydrase 1 (CA-1), Matrix Metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), Peroxiredoxin 2 (PRDX2), Phenylalanyl-tRNA Synthetase Subunit Beta (FARSB), and Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin/Kexin Type 9 (PCSK9)-as prospective biomarkers for bipolar II disorder (BD-II). In this study, we explored the relationships between these potential plasma proteins and cognitive performance in BD-II patients using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Affective Disorders (BACA), a validated tool for assessing cognitive deficits in mood disorders.

Methods: One hundred and seventeen participants with BD-II and 41 controls participated in this study.

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Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Taiwan, and has a poor prognosis despite treatment advances. Emerging evidence suggests environmental contaminants, including organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), as potential cancer contributors. This study aims to investigate the association between exposure to OPFRs and ESCC.

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Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common progressive neurodegenerative disorders, and its caregivers often experience a significant burden. This prospective study aimed to assess the dyadic dynamics of depression and anxiety severity in patients with PD and their caregivers, as well as changes in severity over a one-year follow-up period.

Methods: We recruited 181 patients with PD and their respective caregivers from a medical center.

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Background: The relationship between Kawasaki disease (KD) and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) remains unclear. This study aims to explore the association between them.

Method: A systematic review was conducted using PubMed and Embase databases from inception to May 1, 2024 (INPLASY202450017).

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Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common psychiatric condition among children and adolescents, often associated with a high risk of psychiatric comorbidities. Currently, ADHD diagnosis relies exclusively on clinical presentation and patient history, underscoring the need for clinically relevant, reliable, and objective biomarkers. Such biomarkers may enable earlier diagnosis and lead to improved treatment outcomes.

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Article Synopsis
  • Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for persistent psychiatric disorders, though post-ECT fever is rare and not widely reported.
  • A case study of a 27-year-old woman with bipolar disorder showed she experienced multiple fever episodes after ECT, with diagnostic tests indicating inflammation but no signs of infection or serious syndromes.
  • The findings suggest that the fever may be a benign inflammatory response to ECT, allowing for the continued use of ECT to achieve therapeutic benefits.
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  • This study looked at the effects of prenatal and postnatal exposure to phthalates and BPA on children's emotional and behavioral development, involving 491 mother-child pairs in southern Taiwan from 2021 to 2022.* -
  • It specifically found that higher levels of a phthalate metabolite (MnBP) in mothers during pregnancy were significantly linked to various behavioral issues in their children, including anxiety and sleep problems.* -
  • The research indicates that both prenatal and postnatal exposure to dibutyl phthalate, measured through MnBP levels, can negatively impact children's overall behavioral development.*
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Our previous studies have revealed a correlation between urinary phthalates (PAE) metabolites and parabens and PM exposure and susceptibility to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in school-age children. Our goal was to examine the relationships between urinary organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) and their metabolites and the susceptibility to ADHD in the same cohort of children. We recruited 186 school children, including 132 with ADHD and 54 normal controls, living in southern Taiwan to investigate five OPFRs (1,3-dichloro-2-propyl phosphate (TDCPP), tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP), tris (2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBEP), and triphenyl phosphate (TPHP)) and five OPFR metabolites (bis(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (BDCPP), di-n-butyl phosphate (DNBP), bis(2-chloroethyl) hydrogen phosphate (BCEP), di-(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (DBEP), and diphenyl phosphate (DPHP)) in urine.

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Appetite hormones may play a significant role in neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity and may also affect brain function development. This study aimed to explore the role of appetite hormones in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), including aspects of pathophysiology, pharmacotherapy, and side effects. We recruited 119 patients with ADHD who were undergoing methylphenidate treatment (ADHD+MPH), 77 unmedicated ADHD patients (ADHD-MPH), and 87 healthy controls.

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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.

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We conducted a 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the potential impact of () supplementation on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children with ADHD who were already receiving a stable dose of methylphenidate (MPH) treatment were enrolled and were randomly assigned to two groups: one receiving add-on (daily bacterial count of 5 × 10 CFUs) ( = 51) and the other receiving a placebo ( = 51). All participants underwent assessments using Conners' Continuous Performance Test (CPT) and Conners' Continuous Auditory Test of Attention (CATA).

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Background: Organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) are extensively distributed in our environment, prompting concerns about potential health hazards, including lung injuries resulting from OPFR exposure.

Methods: The present study recruited 125 lung cancer patients, assessing their exposure to 10 OPFR compounds through urine samples. The final analysis comprised 108 participants after excluding those lacking epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) status and those with chronic kidney disease.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study conducted a systematic review of randomized controlled trials to evaluate the effectiveness of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) interventions for reducing symptoms of autism spectrum disorder.
  • Only one specific intervention—anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with cathodal tDCS—showed a significant improvement in autistic symptoms compared to sham controls, with a standardized mean difference of -1.40.
  • However, no notable improvements were observed in social-communication symptoms or repetitive behaviors, and all NIBS interventions had comparable dropout rates and no serious adverse events reported.
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Humans are extensively exposed to organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs), an emerging group of organic contaminants with potential nephrotoxicity. Nevertheless, the estimated daily intake (EDI) and prognostic impacts of OPFRs have not been assessed in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this 2-year longitudinal study of 169 patients with CKD, we calculated the EDIs of five OPFR triesters from urinary biomonitoring data of their degradation products and analyzed the effects of OPFR exposure on adverse renal outcomes and renal function deterioration.

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Background: Exploring the epigenetic regulations, such as microRNA, in newborns holds significant promise for enhancing our ability to address and potentially prevent early-life developmental delays.

Objectives: Hence, this research seeks to investigate if the expression of miRNA in the umbilical cord blood of infants can forecast their developmental outcomes as they grow older.

Design And Method: We enrolled 143 full-term newborns, delivered either via cesarean section (CS) or through natural spontaneous delivery (NSD).

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Parkinson's disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease with a relentlessly progressive course of illness. This study aimed to assess the dyadic dynamics of benefit finding (BF), demoralization, and stigma on the depression severity of PD patients and their caregivers. This study used a cross-sectional design with purposive sampling.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates peripheral biomarkers associated with bipolar II disorder (BD-II), focusing on specific circulating miRNAs and proteins that could signify the disorder.
  • Researchers analyzed data from BD-II patients and a control group to identify correlations between the specified miRNAs and proteins.
  • Findings revealed significant correlations between specific miRNAs (miR-221-5p and miR-370-3p) and proteins (CA-1, FARSB, MMP-9, and PCSK9), suggesting these interactions may play a crucial role in the biological mechanisms underlying BD-II.
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  • A study analyzed RNA from children with ADHD to discover differences in gene expression using microarray assays and qRT-PCR, identifying seven key genes that could help predict ADHD.
  • The findings showed that these genes could significantly differentiate ADHD patients from healthy controls, with a prediction model achieving a high accuracy rate (AUROC = 0.98).
  • Additionally, diffusion tensor imaging revealed changes in brain white matter structure in ADHD patients, suggesting a link between specific genes and brain microstructure associated with the disorder.
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Previous studies have reported a role of alterations in the brain's inhibitory control mechanism in addiction. Mounting evidence from neuroimaging studies indicates that its key components can be evaluated with brain oscillations and connectivity during inhibitory control. In this study, we developed an internet-related stop-signal task with electroencephalography (EEG) signal recorded to investigate inhibitory control.

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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic neurological and psychiatric disorder that affects children during their development. To find neural patterns for ADHD and provide subjective features as decision references to assist specialists and physicians. Many studies have been devoted to investigating the neural dynamics of the brain through resting-state or continuous performance tests (CPT) with EEG or functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI).

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