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Regulatory T-cells (Tregs) play an important role in cancer immunity but their prognostic impact is controversial in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Intratumoral Tregs in DLBCL (n = 70) were evaluated by double-stained CD25 and FOXP3 lymphocytes in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues, and correlated with clinicopathologic features. We found that increased numbers of intratumoral FOXP3+ lymphocytes (>2.4/HPF) and CD25 + FOXP3+ lymphocytes (>0.8/HPF) are favorable prognosticators (p =.004 and p <.001, respectively) in DLBCL patients, along with age <70 years, stage I–II disease, normal serum LDH level and low IPI scores (p <.001,.002,.002, and <.001, respectively). On multivariate analyses, a higher number of CD25 + FOXP3+ lymphocytes retained prognostic significance (p =.040). Interestingly, higher Treg infiltration correlated with increased infiltration by cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (γ = 0.294, p =.038) and nodal location (γ = 0.390, p =.004), but not with infiltration by CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells, which were reported to induce Tregs with immune tolerance. Therefore, congruent with literature meta-analyses, higher intratumoral CD25 + FOXP3+ lymphocytes have a beneficial impact on DLBCL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging adults often increase problematic drinking during college. Although they generally do not seek help for problematic drinking, college students discuss their drinking on social media. This study followed college students' Facebook profiles from the inception of their attendance at a university and identified alcohol-related posts. Within 28 days of their first alcohol-related Facebook post, participants were interviewed to assess problematic drinking (binge drinking episodes and number of drinks). Linguistic analysis of alcohol-related Facebook posts found that use of negative emotion language and swear words were related to problematic drinking, in support of proposed hypotheses. Results are situated within alcohol use disorder and health research examining the link between problematic drinking and anxiety, deviant behavior, and negative emotions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of the modern global economy and the national competition in trade and commerce has intensified. Thus, overseas study as a major form of human capital formation in the Asian region tends to be regarded as an economic measure for enhancing workforce quality and national competitiveness. Mainstream discourses on international students at the national level have been instrumental in ignoring the social and cultural dimensions pursued by transnational interaction and understanding. However, in addition to the rapid advancement of internationalisation, international student mobility has become significantly diversified in terms of scenarios, patterns and motivations. In this paper, two short-term study-abroad programmes in Taiwan and Los Angeles were selected to investigate their influence on participants' perception and awareness of intercultural literacy. Results indicate that many participants have been highly motivated to engage in 'local culture, people and tradition'. The international outlook and perspectives of participants have broadened substantially due to these short-term but focused activities. In contrast to the economic purpose of student mobility, the result from this research provides promising information on further raising the young generation's social and culture understanding of other societies and countries by attending such short-term study programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectiveDesignStudy sampleResultsConclusionsApproximately 30–50% of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) patients show poor response to systemic steroid therapy. Additionally, the most appropriate treatment for patients with refractory sudden sensorineural hearing loss (RSSNHL) is unknown. This study aimed to explore the best treatment for RSSNHL.Using a frequentist contrast-based model and PRISMA guidelines, this study compared five salvage regimes: intratympanic injection of steroids (ITS), hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy, post auricle steroid injection (PSI), ITS combined with HBO therapy, and continued systemic steroids.We searched the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for randomised controlled trials and cohort studies comparing treatment regimens for RSSNHL.Compared with the control group (no additional treatment), PSI and ITS demonstrated significant improvements. The mean hearing gain was greater after PSI (11.1 dB [95% CI, 4.4–17.9]) than after ITS (7.7 dB [95% CI, 4.8–10.7]). When a restricted definition of RSSNHL was used, the ITS + HBO therapy showed the largest difference in improvement for pure tone average compared with the control group (14.5 dB [95% CI, 4.2–25.0]).The administration of either PSI or ITS leads to the greatest therapeutic effect in patients with RSSNHL. However, a consensus on the definition of RSSNHL is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonhealing chronic wounds on foot induced by diabetes is a complicated pathologic process. They are mainly caused by impaired neovascularization, neuropathy, and excessive inflammation. A strategy, which can accelerate the vessel network formation as well as inhibit inflammatory response at the same time, makes it possible for effective diabetic ulcers treatment. Co-delivery of multiple drugs with complementary bioactivity offers a strategy to properly treat diabetic wound. We previously demonstrated that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) could accelerate diabetic wound healing through promoting angiogenesis and reducing inflammatory response. In order to further enhance blood vessel formation, a pro-angiogenic molecular called deferoxamine (DFO) was topically co-administrated with HSYA. The in vitro results showed that the combination of DFO and HSYA exerted synergistic effect on enhancing angiogenesis by upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression. The interpenetrating polymer networks hydrogels, characterized by good breathability and water absorption, were designed for co-loading of DFO and HSYA aiming to recruit angiogenesis relative cells and upgrade wound healing in vivo. Both DFO and HSYA in hydrogel have achieved sustained release. The in vivo studies indicated that HSYA/DFO hydrogel could accelerate diabetic wound healing. With a high expression of Hif-1α which is similar to that of normal tissue. The noninvasive US/PA imaging revealed that the wound could be recovered completely with abundant blood perfusion in dermis after given HSYA/DFO hydrogel for 28 days. In conclusion, combination of pro-angiogenic small molecule DFO and HSYA in hydrogel provides a promising strategy to productively promote diabetic wound healing as well as better the repair quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonhealing chronic wounds on foot induced by diabetes is a complicated pathologic process. They are mainly caused by impaired neovascularization, neuropathy, and excessive inflammation. A strategy, which can accelerate the vessel network formation as well as inhibit inflammatory response at the same time, makes it possible for effective diabetic ulcers treatment. Co-delivery of multiple drugs with complementary bioactivity offers a strategy to properly treat diabetic wound. We previously demonstrated that hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) could accelerate diabetic wound healing through promoting angiogenesis and reducing inflammatory response. In order to further enhance blood vessel formation, a pro-angiogenic molecular called deferoxamine (DFO) was topically co-administrated with HSYA. The in vitro results showed that the combination of DFO and HSYA exerted synergistic effect on enhancing angiogenesis by upregulation of hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression. The interpenetrating polymer networks hydrogels, characterized by good breathability and water absorption, were designed for co-loading of DFO and HSYA aiming to recruit angiogenesis relative cells and upgrade wound healing in vivo. Both DFO and HSYA in hydrogel have achieved sustained release. The in vivo studies indicated that HSYA/DFO hydrogel could accelerate diabetic wound healing. With a high expression of Hif-1α which is similar to that of normal tissue. The noninvasive US/PA imaging revealed that the wound could be recovered completely with abundant blood perfusion in dermis after given HSYA/DFO hydrogel for 28 days. In conclusion, combination of pro-angiogenic small molecule DFO and HSYA in hydrogel provides a promising strategy to productively promote diabetic wound healing as well as better the repair quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing elderly population puts significant health, economic, and social burdens on society. Physical activity is one of the most cost-effective ways to maintain the health of the elderly. This study adopts a treatment effects model to investigate the causal relationship between environment attributes and physical activity among the elderly, while taking endogeneity into account. The data were collected from 274 participants by face-to-face interviews in Taichung, Taiwan. Performing physical activity regularly in parks is the most important measure of the amount of physical activity by the elderly. Providing sufficient and accessible parks in metropolitan residential neighborhoods could be one of the most cost-effective ways to promote physical activity for the elderly living in midsize Asian cities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The article explores the relationship between young people and social movements within the context of education, particularly focusing on Asia. It highlights the ambivalent roles of higher education institutions in political citizenship education during large-scale social protests and calls for more research on the unique positioning of students within these movements.

A trusted third party (TTP) is introduced to the buyer–seller protocol to guarantee the transaction fairness in protocol. However, the TTP practically increases the cost in the buyer–seller protocol. To address this issue, we propose a novel buyer–seller watermarking protocol to eliminate the need for a TTP. By dividing the buyer's secret key into two primary mechanisms: the buyer's watermark, embedded in digital content, and the transaction number produced by the seller; the seller can verify buyer's watermark without decryption. After inserting a digital watermark from the seller, the buyer cannot remove the watermark from the digital content without a watermark extraction algorithm. The seller cannot fabricate piracy to frame an innocent buyer. When piracy is found, it can be traced clearly because of the privacy homomorphism property. In other words, the proposed protocol can trace piracy and protect the customer's rights without a TTP. Therefore, the conspiracy problem can be solved. The proposed protocol also can protect the anonymity of the buyer and bind the buyer's watermark to digital content. Moreover, the buyer is no longer required to participate in the dispute resolution in our scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The World Health Organization (WHO) lymphoma classification has been widely adopted by hematopathologists. However, its practical application by general pathologists is largely unknown. Using a hematopathology consultation program in Taiwan, we reviewed 406 cases. Diagnostic discrepancies were scored based upon whether the divergence would alter disease management according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines. Major discrepancies accounted for 55% (222/406), minor discrepancies for 5% (20/406) and agreement for 40% (164/406) cases. The more common groups in major discrepancies were non-diagnostic/ambiguous referral reports (116/222, 52%), tumor type revisions (52/222, 23%) and changes from malignant to benign lesions (32/222, 14%). In a total of 259 cases of lymphoma, the concordance rates were 41% (77/187) and 33% (24/72) for B-cell and T/natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas, respectively. It appears that the WHO approach has made lymphoma classification rather poorly reproducible at least in countries where extensive use of an ancillary technique is not employed by general pathologists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vascular cytokines, total nitrite, and cyclophilin-A (CyP-A) may be related to the pathogenesis of untreated hypertension. Forty males with normotensive and untreated essential hypertension were recruited in this cytokines survey. Body mass index (BMI), hyperlipidemia, and plasma CyP-A were increased in the hypertensive group ( p < 0.05). However, only BMI ( p = 0.022) and plasma CyP-A ( p = 0.020) were found to be significant contributors to hypertension by multiple regression analysis. CyP-A was also positively correlated with systolic blood pressure ( p = 0.029) and diastolic blood pressure ( p = 0.047). These findings indicated that plasma CyP-A is a critical molecular biomarker in the early pathogenesis of essential hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper shows that Bayesian estimation and comparison of multivariate generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (MGARCH) and multivariate stochastic volatility (MSV) models with Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods could be straightforwardly and successfully conducted in WinBUGS package. And an algorithm based on the Cholesky decomposition is proposed to set as a prior for a correlation matrix. They are illustrated by applying three types of parsimonious MGARCH and MSV specifications nested in constant conditional correlations to weekly returns of five sector indexes of Shanghai Stock Exchange over the period of 28 June 2004 to 30 June 2008. Empirical results provide evidence for the superior performance of MSV models over MGARCH models and give support to the feasibility of the algorithm we presented. In addition, the estimation results also suggest the significant negative correlation between the persistency and the variability of volatilities in MSV models. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Cyclosporin A (CsA) is an effective immunosuppressive agent and exerts its actions by interfering with the activation of T cells. There is growing evidence that regular exercise improves immune function. However, the effects of exercise on immune functions in patients taking CsA are unclear. Here, we examine the interactive effects of CsA administration and regular exercise on immune function in mice. Forty-eight BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to one of six groups with eight mice per group: 0-Ex (no CsA/no exercise), 0 + Ex (no CsA + exercise), 10-Ex (10 mg · kg-1 · day-1 CsA/no exercise), 10 + Ex (10 mg · kg-1 · day-1 CsA + exercise), 20-Ex (20 mg · kg-1 · day-1 CsA/no exercise), and 20 + Ex (20 mg · kg-1 · day-1 CsA + exercise). The three exercise groups were trained for 8 weeks, three times a week, at approximately 75% maximum oxygen uptake ([Vdot]O2max). Nitric oxide and interferon-gamma secretions by mitogen-activated macrophages and spleen cells, respectively, were higher in exercise groups than in non-exercise groups receiving the same doses of CsA. The results of this study indicate that regular exercise may enhance Type I helper T cell functions in mice receiving 10 or 20 mg · kg-1 · day-1 CsA. Our results demonstrate that moderate regular exercise modulates the immune function of CsA-treated mice. However, whether this exercise-induced immunomodulatory effect is beneficial or detrimental to CsA-treated patients needs to be clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper describes the planning and implementation of a best management practice (BMP) system for a clay mining facility in Northern Taiwan. It is a challenge to plan and design BMPs for mitigating the impact of clay mining operations due to the fact that clay mining drainage typically contains very high concentrations of suspended solids (SS), Fe-ions, and [H + ] concentrations. In the present study, a field monitoring effort was conducted to collect data for runoff quality and quantity from a clay mining area in Northern Taiwan. A BMP system including holding ponds connected in series was designed and implemented and its pollutant removal performance was assessed. The assessment was based on mass balance computations and an analysis of the relationship between BMP design parameters such as pond depth, detention time, surface loading rate, etc. and the pollutant removal efficiency. Field sampling results showed that the surface-loading rate is exponential related to the removing rate. The results provide the basis for a more comprehensive and efficient BMP implementation plan for clay mining operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An agricultural waste, chitosan, was converted to bead form to evaluate the feasibility of its use to remove As(III) and As(V) from water in both batch and continuous operations. In batch tests, the effect of pH, temperature, coexisting ions, and arsenic concentrations were studied. Studies of kinetic adsorption, recovery of arsenic by desorption solution, and reuse of chitosan beads were also carried out. Additionally, wastewater containing arsenic discharged from the manufacturing of GaAs supports was treated in a continuous operation. Results indicated that chitosan beads favored the adsorption of As(V), but not As(III). The optimal pH value for As(III) and As(V) removal was near 5. The insignificant difference for As(V) and As(III) adsorption by chitosan beads was found in the 25-40°C range. Ion coexistence below 50 mg/L did not affect arsenic removal. The optimal desorption solution for the arsenic recovery was H2SO4 with a 71% efficiency for As(V), which was amenable to efficient regeneration for multiple reuse (about 15 times). In continuous tests, the chitosan bead column exhibited excellent arsenic removal from actual wastewater without any pretreatment. The results provide strong evidence of the promise the application of chitosan bead has for arsenic removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies the applications of cumulant based inverse filter criteria to deconvolution of seismic signals and speech signals. Phase distortions in predictive deconvolved signals; Removal of the amplitude distortion and phase distortion of non-minimum phase system.

Examines the basic `rationality' and `legitimacy' of joint entrance examinations in Taiwan. Analysis of Taiwan's educational history; Defects of the educational system in Taiwan; Meaning of legitimacy in education.

An increased focus on fake news and misinformation is currently emerging. But what does it mean when information is designated as "fake?" Research on deception has focused on lies of commission, in which people disclose something false as true. However, people can also lie by omission, by withholding important yet true information. In this research, we investigate when people are more likely to tell a lie of omission. In three studies, with tests among undergraduates, online sample respondents, and candidates for U.S. Senate, we found that people in a gain frame were more likely to lie by omission (vs. commission), and vice versa for a loss frame. Moreover, participants rated lies of commission in a gain frame as the least acceptable type of deception, suggesting why people may avoid telling this kind of lie. Overall, our results emphasize that from frame-to-frame, lying is not only different in degree but different in kind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel monomer, N, N'-bis(acryloyl) cystinamide (NBACA), was designed and synthesized with L-cystine as row material. By using this NBACA both as the monomer and crosslinker, reduction-sensitive nanohydrogel was prepared in ethanol via distillation–precipitation polymerization. The obtained nanohydrogel can provide a relatively hydrophobic environment and hydrogen-bonding sites inside the gel; therefore, it is suitable for loading hydrophobic drug. When paclitaxel that possess poor water-solubility was used as a model drug, the nanohydrogel represented a high drug-loading capacity, and dispersed well in aqueous solutions. Furthermore, the disulfide-group-containing nanohydrogel exhibited good reduction-sensitive drug-release behavior. The nanohydrogel biodegraded rapidly in a reducing environment, and released approximately 80% of the PTX within 24 h. Cytotoxicity assays showed that the PTX-loaded nanohydrogel exhibited high cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, while blank nanohydrogels displayed a negligible cytotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Recent studies have shown that pronase can improve mucosal visibility, but this agent is not uniformly available for human use worldwide. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), a mucolytic agent, in improving mucus elimination as measured by decreased endoscopic water flushes during narrow-band imaging (NBI) endoscopy. Material and methods. A consecutive series of patients scheduled for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy at outpatient clinics were enrolled in this double-blind, randomized controlled trial. The control group drank a preparation of 100 mg dimethicone (5 ml at 20 mg/ml) plus water up to 100 ml, and the NAC group drank 300 mg NAC plus 100 mg dimethicone and water up to 100 ml. During the endoscopy, the endoscopist used as many flushes of water as deemed necessary to produce a satisfactory NBI view of the entire gastric mucosa. Results. In all, 177 patients with a mean age of 51 years were evaluated in this study. Significantly lesser water was used for flushing during NBI endoscopy for the NAC group than the control group; 40 ml (30-70, 0-120) versus 50 ml (30-100, 0-150) (median (interquartile range, range), p = 0.0095). Conclusions. Considering the safety profile of NAC, decreasing the number of water flushes for optimal vision and unavailability of pronase in some areas, the authors suggest the use of add-on NAC to eliminate mucus during NBI endoscopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we investigated the effect of a long-term mountain expedition on glucose tolerance and insulin action. Twelve registered mountaineers ages 31 years (SD = 1. 1) participated in a 25-day expedition at a 2,200-3,800-in altitude with an average duration of 8 hr per day. Arterial oxygen saturation (SaO2) was substantially reduced during hiking. Glucose tolerance and insulin responses were measured prior to and twice during the expedition period. Maximal oxygen consumption increased from 43.0± 2.7 to 49.1 ± 2.2 mL/kg/min. Percentage of body fat decreased from 19.4 ± 68% to 16.9±5.9%. The area under the curves for insulin and glucose during the oral glucose tolerance test were also reduced in Days 3 and 25. The present study demonstrated that altitude hiking activity is an effective lifestyle intervention to improve insulin action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combinatorial library of biodegradable polyarylates derived from L-tyrosine was synthesized and characterized. These polyarylates are A–B-type co-polymers consisting of a cyclic dipeptide and a diacid. General structure–property correlations were established by comparing aryl diacid co-polymers and aliphatic diacid co-polymers. The synthesized polymers were characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR for their chemical structure, by DSC and TGA for their thermal characteristics and by GPC for their molecular weight distribution. The Tg of polymers decreased and water absorption increased with increasing number of methylene groups in the polymer backbone. Using a cyclic peptide derived from L-tyrosine as co-monomer we obtained optimum bioactivity and biocompatibility. Combinatorial approaches of designing material increased effectively the number of available degradable polymers which can be used in different biomaterials applications. General structure–property correlation makes polymers' properties varied in a predictable and systematic fashion. Accelerated hydrolytic degradation studies of polyarylates were performed at 70°C in acid and alkali medium. The degradation rates of polymers were in accordance with their water absorption. The degradation rates of samples in acid medium were lower than those in alkali medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Sirolimus has been considered to be a non-nephrotoxic agent. It may delay graft function due to a potential hindrance of the recovery from acute tubular necrosis. It remains controversial as to whether the concomitant administration of sirolimus (SRL) with calcineurin inhibitors delays graft function in Asian patients. Method. This study enrolled 61 patients who received primary renal transplantation. Twenty-one patients aged 38.9 ± 11 years received early treatment with 6 mg/day sirolimus, 8 mg/kg/day cyclosporine (CsA) and prednisolone (SRL group). Forty patients with a mean age of 36.7 ± 9 years in the control group were treated with the standard immunosuppressive therapy (8 mg/kg/day CsA, mycophonolate mofetil and prednisolone). Results. The creatinine level at one week following transplantation in the SRL group was not significantly different from that in the control group (4.7 ± 1.0 versus 2.7 ± 0.4 mg/dL, p = 0.17). Similarly, there was no significant difference in the creatinine level at week 2 (3.4 ± 0.7 versus 2.7 ± 0.3 mg/dL, p = 0.36), week 3 (2.0 ± 0.3 versus 2.1 ± 0.2 mg/dL, p = 0.76), and week 4 (1.8 ± 0.2 versus 1.8±0.1 mg/dL, p = 0.92) between SRL and control groups, respectively. Similarly, the number of the patients with renal function impairment in both groups was not significantly different. The one-year patient and graft survival was 100% and 96%, respectively, in the SRL group and 100% and 98%, respectively, in the control group. Conclusion. The combination of sirolimus and cyclosporine did not prolong the recovery from transplantation-associated ischemic injury in kidney graft recipient. Our study demonstrated the safety of early usage of the concomitant administration of sirolimus and cyclosporine in kidney transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of organic compounds, inorganic nutrients, and bacteria from aquaculture wastewaters before discharge cannot only minimize deterioration of receiving water quality, but can also make possible the reuse of the original water in the culture of prawn, fish, and shellfish. In this study, the feasibility of using chitosan, a multifunctional environmentally friendly biopolymer, at different molecular weights to simultaneously remove various pollutants from the discharge of an eel culture pond is evaluated. Experimental results indicated chitosan with a high molecular weight was best at removing turbidity, suspended solids, and biological and chemical oxygen demand (BOD and COD). In contrast, chitosan of a low molecular weight excelled at removing NH 3 and PO 4 3 - from wastewater. Additionally, chitosan with a high molecular weight did well at eliminating suspended solids of various particle sizes relative to chitosan with a low molecular weight. The best performance of chitosan in removing turbidity, suspended solids, BOD, COD, NH 3 , PO 4 3 - , and bacteria was 87.7%, 62.6%, 52.3%, 62.8%, 91.8%, 99.1%, and 99.998% removal, respectively. When chitosan with a high molecular weight was added at 12 mg/L, the quality of treated wastewater successfully complied with government discharge standards. Furthermore, the relatively low bacteria amount in the wastewater after treatment with chitosan was confirmed by both the plate count method and molecular analysis technique. These results indicated that the application of chitosan is feasible in an effort to recycle the effluents of a culture pond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (As2O3) in the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Absence of cross-drug-resistance between As2O3 and other antileukemic agents; Remission rate of relapsed and refractory APL patient; Side effects of As2O3 therapy.

Purpose: Pituicytoma is a rare low-grade glioma arising from the pituicytes of the posterior pituitary. To date, the clinical and pathological correlates of pituicytoma have not been investigated. This study was thus designed to examine the correlation between pituicytoma and the normal pituitary gland. Methods: The records of patients who underwent pituitary surgery at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Linkou, Taiwan between 2000 and 2016 were reviewed. Patients who received a pathological diagnosis of pituicytoma were included; however, those with inadequate specimens for pathological study were excluded. Clinical information, including patients' presenting symptoms, serum hormone levels, neuroimages, and specimens, were collected. Hematoxylin and eosin stains and immunohistochemical (IHC) stains were performed for differential diagnosis. Results: Among the 1532 patients who underwent pituitary surgery, nine (0.59%) received a pathological diagnosis of pituicytoma. Two patients were excluded due to inadequate specimens. Among the seven remaining patients, six presented with hormone changes. The IHC stains revealed that pituicytoma has no secretory function; however, the resected pituitary glands showed positive results for hormone change. Coexisting pituicytoma and adrenocorticotropic hormone adenoma were identified in one patient with a diagnosis of Cushing disease. Conclusions: Pituicytoma revealed a negative endocrine secretory function through IHC staining. Additionally, pituicytoma is associated with hypersecretion of the pituitary gland both clinically and pathologically. Diagnosing pituicytoma before pathological confirmation is difficult because the tumour may present with hormone dysfunction. Therefore, IHC staining of specimens is useful to exclude the possibility of coexisting pituicytoma and pituitary adenoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperglycaemia is associated with the poor outcome after intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). Acetazolamide (AZA), a kind of carbonic anhydrogenase (CA) inhibitor, its effectiveness in ICH had been reported. However, the connections between AZA and ICH, especially in hyperglycaemia condition had never been defined. In this study, adult Sprague-Dawley rats were administered with vehicle or streptozotocin (STZ) to render them into normoglycaemic (NG) or hyperglycaemic (HG), respectively. Collagenase was then injected into the striatum. The NG or HG ICH rats treated with vehicle control or 5 mg/kg AZA (oral gavage) underwent haemorrhagic area assessments on the 1st, 4th, and 7th day after ICH. The coverage of pericytes was examined by immunohistochemistry. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were assessed in mouse astrocyte cell line treated with vehicle or 20 μmol/L of AZA in culture media according to two different glucose concentrations. AZA reduced the haematoma size, improved neurobehavioral functions, suppressed astrocytic ROS production in vitro, and preserved cerebral pericytes coverage, which are even more remarkable in HG conditions. The present study indicates that AZA may alleviate some sequelae after ICH, especially in poorer prognostic HG rats through the suppression of astrocytic ROS production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very high resolution imagery offers great possibilities for land cover/use mapping. Unfortunately, very high resolution imagery leads to significant shadowy pixels. In recent years, aerial image devices have produced high radiometric resolution data (12-bit or higher), providing more radiometric detail of potential use in classification or interpretation of land cover of shadow areas. This study evaluated ADS-40 high radiometric resolution aerial images to determine the feasibility of classifying shadow areas. We analyzed the spectral properties of land cover in shadow areas and conducted shadow-image classification comparing 4 shadow compensation methods: Method 1, no treatment, used 13-bit spectral information in shaded areas for classification; Method 2 used linear correlation correction (LCC) before the classification; Method 3 used histogram matching (HM) before the classification; and Method 4 used multisource data fusion (MSDF) to aid in classification of shadows. Subsequently, we developed a practical proposal for the processing of shadow areas. The results of the 4 shadow processing methods of image classification indicated that Method 1 and Method 2 produced good results (Method 1, overall accuracy = 90.33%;Method 2, overall accuracy = 92.33%). Therefore, the high radiometric resolution images show potential for the classification of shadow areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this 4-year research study was to develop paper-and-pencil tests that could be administered to a wide range of students in order to establish a database about students' physics conceptions from elementary school to high school levels in Taiwan. The students' misconceptions of mechanics, electricity and magnetism, heat, sound and wave, and optics were diagnosed. In the beginning of this study, we extensively reviewed the research literature on related conceptions. With the use of concept maps and related propositional statements, we also interviewed some students to find out their conceptual understanding of the selected key concepts. These data provided sufficient information about students' thoughts of several concepts. Through a process of developing two-tier test items, nine versions of physics questionnaires were obtained. More than 13,000 students were randomly sampled in a national survey. After data analysis, the results indicated that students' misconceptions in physics such as the image formed by lenses and mirrors and the torque and rotational motion were consistent with their ages. However, in some cases, such as the current in an electric circuit, students' understandings of concepts did not improve with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: The seeds of cycads contain cycasin and neocycasin, which belong to the family of cyanogenic glycosides. These glycosides of cycads are considered pseudocyanogenic with little potential to liberate hydrogen cyanide as other cyanogenic glycosides do. This study investigated the clinical spectrum of Cycas seed poisoning and its cyanogenic potential. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review conducted at the Poison Control Center in Taiwan (PCC-Taiwan) from 1990 to 2001. RESULTS: Twenty-one cases of Cycas seed poisoning were identified. The reasons for seed ingestion were misuse as an edible food (70%), health promotion (10%), cancer prevention (10%), cosmetic use (5%), and gastrointestinal discomfort (5%). All patients had eaten the seeds after washing and cooking them. The time from ingestion to the onset of symptoms ranged from 30 min to 7h (mean 2.8h); patients had ingested between 1 to 30 seeds. Respiratory depression did not occur. Severe vomiting was the most striking symptom. All patients except one presented with gastrointestinal disturbance, and 90% sought medical care at the emergency department. Within 24h, all patients had recovered. Six patients had blood cya nide or thiocyanate levels measured. Although the levels were higher than normal, they did not reach the toxic range. CONCLUSIONS: The cyanogenic potential of Cycas seeds is documented in our cases. The gastrointestinal symptoms were severe enough that most patients sought medical attention but recovery was quick and complete. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]