A modeling study of pre-exposure prophylaxis to eliminate HIV in Taiwan by 2030.

Background: The necessity of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for ending the global AIDS epidemic by 2030 remains controversial. In Taiwan, the HIV epidemic predominantly affects young, sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM). This study aimed to model the impact and cost-effectiveness of a high-coverage oral emtricitabine/tenofovir PrEP program in Taiwan from an HIV elimination perspective.

Vitamin D receptor induces oxidative stress to promote esophageal squamous cell carcinoma proliferation via the p53 signaling pathway.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a common pathological esophageal cancer with poor prognosis. Vitamin D deficiency reportedly occurs in ESCC patients, and this is related to single nucleotide polymorphism of vitamin D receptor (VDR).

Objective: We investigated the effect of VDR on ESCC proliferation, invasion, and metastasis and its potential mechanism.

Secure data storage based on blockchain and coding in edge computing.

Edge computing is an important tool for smart computing, which brings convenience to data processing as well as security problems. In particular, the security of data storage under edge computing has become an obstacle to its widespread use. To solve the problem, the mechanism combing blockchain with regeneration coding is proposed to improve the security and reliability of stored data under edge computing.

Artemisia capillaris inhibited enterovirus 71-induced cell injury by preventing viral internalization.

Artemisia capillaris (A. capillaris) is a common herbal drug used for thousands years in ancient China. A.

[Comparisons of Microbial Numbers, Biomasses and Soil Enzyme Activities Between Paddy Field and Drvland Origins in Karst Cave Wetland].

The purpose of this study is to compare microbial number, microbial biomass as well as soil enzyme activity between paddy field and dryland originated karst wetland ecosystems. The soil samples (0-20 cm) of uncultivated wetland, paddy field and dryland were collected in Huixian karst cave wetland, Guilin, China. Microbial numbers and biomass were detected using dilute plate incubation counting and chloroform fumigation-extraction, respectively.

Areca nut extract induces pyknotic necrosis in serum-starved oral cells via increasing reactive oxygen species and inhibiting GSK3β: an implication for cytopathic effects in betel quid chewers.

Areca nut has been proven to be correlated with various pathologic alterations in oral cavity. However, the mechanisms for such cytopathic effects are still elusive due mostly to the limitations of cell culture systems. Here we discovered that areca nut extract (ANE) induced production of autophagosome vacuoles in cells cultured with rich medium but induced pyknosis and ballooning, two morphological alterations frequently observed in betel quid chewers, in cells under a serum-free culture condition.

Arecoline downregulates levels of p21 and p27 through the reactive oxygen species/mTOR complex 1 pathway and may contribute to oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Arecoline, the major alkaloid of areca nut, has been shown to cause strong genotoxicity and is considered a potential carcinogen. However, the detailed mechanism for arecoline-induced carcinogenesis remains obscure. In this study, we noticed that the levels of p21 and p27 increased in two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines with high confluence.

Reversine suppresses oral squamous cell carcinoma via cell cycle arrest and concomitantly apoptosis and autophagy.

Background: The effective therapies for oral cancer patients of stage III and IV are generally surgical excision and radiation combined with adjuvant chemotherapy using 5-Fu and Cisplatin. However, the five-year survival rate is still less than 30% in Taiwan. Therefore, evaluation of effective drugs for oral cancer treatment is an important issue.