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Evidence shows that the dietary intake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from food processing induces the cellular DNA damage response and leads to the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). Therefore, protecting from cellular DNA damage might be an effective strategy in preventing CRC. Benzo[ a ]pyrene (B[ a ]P) was used as a CRC initiator in the present study. Compared with other stilbenoids, piceatannol (PIC) showed the most effective inhibition of B[ a ]P-induced cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) protein expression in NCM460 normal human colon epithelial cells. PIC treatment alleviated DNA migration and enhanced the expression of DNA-repair-related proteins, including histone 2AX (H2AX), checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1), and p53, in B[ a ]P-induced NCM460 cells. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) revealed that PIC exerted antioxidative effects on NCM460 cells by increasing the glutathione (GSH) content and scavenging the excess intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by B[ a ]P. Furthermore, PIC suppressed B[ a ]P-induced CYP1B1 protein expression and stimulated miR-27b-3p expression. The upregulation of phase II detoxification enzymes, such as nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) and quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and the antioxidative enzyme, heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), via the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) pathway was observed in the PIC-treated group. Our results suggest that PIC is a potential CRC-blocking agent due to its ability to alleviate DNA damage, decrease intracellular ROS production, modulate the metabolism and detoxification of B[ a ]P, and activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway in B[ a ]P-induced NCM460 cells.

P2X7 signaling has been explored in adipose tissue because of its potential to promote ATP-activated inflammatory cascades during obesogenic environments. However, limited literature has investigated the role of the P2X7 receptor in lipid metabolism during adipocyte differentiation. This study sought to explore the regulatory roles of P2X7 in adipocytes. This study utilized the in vitro 3T3-L1 differentiation model. Lipid accumulation, intracellular triglyceride, and extracellular glycerol were determined. The selective P2X7 agonist BzATP and antagonist A438079 were administered to investigate the functions of P2X7. We found that the expression of P2X7 and the lipid accumulation increased during adipocyte differentiation from D0 to D4. When administered at D0/D2, A438079 attenuated, while BzATP enhanced the degree of lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. Neither did BzATP and A438079 administration affect the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPα genes that increased at D4. In addition, both intracellular triglyceride and extracellular glycerol levels at D4 were reduced by A438079 treatment and enhanced by BzATP administration. When administered at stage 2 of adipocyte differentiation, BzATP consistently enhanced lipid accumulation and intracellular triglyceride and extracellular glycerol levels without affecting mRNA and protein levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα that increased at D4. However, treating A438079 or BzATP at D4 did not affect intracellular triglyceride formation and extracellular glycerol release in differentiated adipocytes at D7. Notably, BzATP administration at stage 2 exerted a concentration-dependent inhibition on the enhanced expression of PRDM16, PGC-1α, and UCP-1 at D4. Furthermore, BzATP administration at D0/D2 inhibited the protein and mRNA levels of sirtuin-3/5 at D4. BzATP treatment at stage 2 also suppressed the mRNA levels of sirtuin-3/5 genes upregulated by insulin. In conclusion, this study demonstrated P2X7 enhances lipid accumulation during adipogenesis by suppressing the expression of sirtuin-3/5 and the browning genes., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Chiang, Cheng, Lien, Huang and Lin.)

Objective: To assess the relationship between allergic manifestations in early life and the occurrence of newly diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) throughout childhood., Study Design: We collected a population-based longitudinal cohort comprising children enrolled in Taiwan's National Health Insurance Program during 2000-2010. We first identified 387,262 children who had a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis (AD) before age 2 years, with 1:1 individualized matching to children without AD. Cox regression analyses were performed to estimate the early-onset and cumulative effects of allergic manifestations on ASD and ADHD., Results: An estimated 0.5% of AD-exposed children received a diagnosis of ASD, and 3.7% were diagnosed with ADHD, significantly higher than the respective rates of 0.4% and 2.9% found in their nonexposed peers. Having AD before age 2 years was associated with an increased hazard ratio (HR) for ASD by 10% and that for ADHD by 16%; such increases were particularly prominent among those with earlier-onset or more severe AD. HRs were especially higher for children with persistent AD and emerging atopic respiratory diseases in childhood (eg, for ASD, adjusted HR, 1.75 and 2.13, respectively; P < .001)., Conclusion: The observed increased risks of ASD and ADHD associated with AD in infancy suggest that a disordered immunologic response may exert effects on neurodevelopment and have implications for research into etiology and treatment strategies., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Availability of lower-dose oseltamivir capsules, an increased pharmacokinetic database, and a desire to align drug exposure across the spectrum of renal function prompted reassessment of oral dosing in patients with renal impairment. The data set comprised 128 subjects (71 with varying degrees of renal impairment) from 8 studies, which included single and multiple doses of 20-1000 mg. Pharmacokinetic profiles of oseltamivir phosphate (OP) and oseltamivir carboxylate (OC) were modeled simultaneously in NONMEM. Exposure metrics of OP and OC (AUC48  h , Cmax , Cmin ) after administration of various dosing regimens were simulated for renal impairment subgroups and compared with exposures in patients with normal renal function receiving approved regimens. For influenza treatment, 30 mg once-daily and twice-daily regimens were selected for severe and moderate impairment, respectively. These regimens provided OC exposures similar or above those of the approved 75-mg twice-daily treatment regimen in subjects with normal renal function. For influenza prophylaxis, 30 mg once every other day and once-daily regimens were selected for severe and moderate impairment, respectively. No dosing adjustments were required for mild impairment. This analysis supported revised labeling in the United States and Europe for oral oseltamivir dosing in patients with moderate and severe renal impairment., (© 2015, The American College of Clinical Pharmacology.)

Objectives: This study examined the extent to which characteristics of family and health care providers predict treatment initiation, treatment mode, and treatment termination among preschool children with newly diagnosed ADHD., Methods: A cohort of 3,583 preschoolers with ADHD was identified from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Individual characteristics and health care records, including medication and nonmedication treatment, were documented. Logistic regression and time-dependent survival analyses were used to evaluate association estimates., Results: Over 80% of the children with newly diagnosed ADHD received initial treatment within a month of diagnosis, with 41% starting with combined treatment. Only one-quarter remained in treatment by the end of 12 months. In the first year, the termination rate was lowest for those who received rehabilitation treatment only (log-rank test, p<.001). Predictors of termination varied by treatment mode. For combined treatment, factors that marginally increased the likelihood of treatment termination were coming from a family in poverty (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]=1.72) or from a rural region (AHR=1.40). Receiving initial treatment from a psychiatrist was associated with an increased likelihood of treatment termination for children receiving psychosocial treatment (AHR=1.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.46-2.22) and combined treatment (AHR=1.38, CI=1.20-1.60)., Conclusions: Family and service provider characteristics appeared to have differential effects on initial receipt and mode of treatment and on one-year treatment termination among preschoolers with ADHD in Taiwan's universal health insurance program. Future efforts should aim at reducing access barriers to comprehensive and continuous health care for very young children with mental or developmental disorders.

Aims: To identify sociodemographic and clinical factors predicting the overall risk of adverse obstetric outcomes and the length of maternal hospital stay among heroin-exposed and methadone-treated women in Taiwan., Methods: Using the retrospective matched cohort study design, 396 births to women on methadone treatment during pregnancy (the methadone-treated group) and 609 to women who started methadone treatment after childbirth (the heroin-exposed group) were identified in the National Methadone Maintenance Program. Adverse pregnancy outcomes were assessed by still birth, low birth weight and preterm delivery. We used multivariate methods and zero-truncated negative binomial regression to evaluate association estimates., Finding: Both heroin-exposed and methadone-treated women had 2-4-fold greater risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes. HIV infection increased the overall risk of adverse pregnancy outcome in the methadone-treated group, whereas being unmarried and having treatment history of substance use disorders increased such risk in the heroin-exposed group. Maternal ages at delivery and healthcare facility used had moderate effects on the length of maternal hospital stay; HIV infection significantly increased the length of hospital stay for women in the heroin-exposed group (adjusted relative risk=1.32, 95% CI=1.05-1.68)., Conclusions: Our results showed no appreciable differences in the occurrence of adverse obstetric outcomes and the length of maternity hospitalization between the methadone-treated and the heroin-exposed women; the profile of sociodemographic and clinical predictors was similar as well. Coordination of addiction treatment and prenatal care may help reduce unfavorable obstetric outcomes among female heroin addicts seeking substitution treatment., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A comprehensive understanding of coral reproduction and development is needed because corals are threatened in many ways by human activity. Major threats include the loss of their photosynthetic symbionts (Symbiodinium) caused by rising temperatures (bleaching), reduced ability to calcify caused by ocean acidification, increased storm severity associated with global climate change and an increase in predators caused by runoff from human agricultural activity. In spite of these threats, detailed descriptions of embryonic development are not available for many coral species. The current consensus is that there are two major groups of stony corals, the "complex" and the "robust". In this paper we describe the embryonic development of four "complex" species, Pseudosiderastrea tayamai, Galaxea fascicularis, Montipora hispida, and Pavona Decussata, and seven "robust" species, Oulastrea crispata, Platygyra contorta, Favites abdita, Echinophyllia aspera, Goniastrea favulus, Dipsastraea speciosa (previously Favia speciosa), and Phymastrea valenciennesi (previously Montastrea valenciennesi). Data from both histologically sectioned embryos and whole mounts are presented. One apparent difference between these two major groups is that before gastrulation the cells of the complex corals thus far described (mainly Acropora species) spread and flatten to produce the so-called prawn chip, which lacks a blastocoel. Our present broad survey of robust and complex corals reveals that prawn chip formation is not a synapomorphy of complex corals, as Pavona Decussata does not form a prawn chip and has a well-developed blastocoel. Although prawn chip formation cannot be used to separate the two clades, none of the robust corals which we surveyed has such a stage. Many robust coral embryos pass through two periods of invagination, separated by a return to a spherical shape. However, only the second of these periods is associated with endoderm formation. We have therefore termed the first invagination a pseudo-blastopore.

Endosymbiotic algae of the genus Symbiodinium have been divided into nine clades (A-I) following genetic classification; some clades are known to have physiological properties that enable the coral hosts to adapt to different environmental conditions. To understand the relationships of coral-alga symbioses, we focused on Symbiodinium diversity in zooxanthellate corals living under the severe environmental conditions of the temperate region (30°-35°N) of Japan. We investigated Symbiodinium clades in 346 colonies belonging to 58 coral species from six locations. We then selected three coral species-Acropora hyacinthus, Acropora japonica, and Cyphastrea chalcidicum-to investigate whether Symbiodinium clades changed during winter or summer over the course of year (May 2009-Apr 2010) in Tanabe Bay, Japan. Three Symbiodinium clades (C, D, and F) were detected in corals in the temperate region. Notably, 56 coral species contained Symbiodinium clade C. Oulastrea crispata predominantly contained clade D, but traces of clade C were also detected in all samples. The temperate-specific species Alveopora japonica contained clades C and F simultaneously. Seasonal change of symbiont clades did not occur in the three coral species during the investigation period where SSTs range on 12.5-29.2°C. However, we found Acropora (2 spp.) and Cyphastrea (1 sp.) contained different subcladal types of clade C. These results reveal that most coral species harbored Symbiodinium clade C stably throughout the year, suggesting that Symbiodinium clade C shows low-temperature tolerance, and that two hypothetical possibilities; genetic differences of subcladal types generating physiological differences or wide physiological flexibility in the clade C.

his study demonstrates the feasibility of coastal water quality mapping using satellite remote sensing images. Water quality sampling campaigns were conducted over a coastal area in northern Taiwan for measurements of three water quality variables including Secchi disk depth, turbidity, and total suspended solids. SPOT satellite images nearly concurrent with the water quality sampling campaigns were also acquired. A spectral reflectance estimation scheme proposed in this study was applied to SPOT multispectral images for estimation of the sea surface reflectance. Two models, univariate and multivariate, for water quality estimation using the sea surface reflectance derived from SPOT images were established. The multivariate model takes into consideration the wavelength-dependent combined effect of individual seawater constituents on the sea surface reflectance and is superior over the univariate model. Finally, quantitative coastal water quality mapping was accomplished by substituting the pixel-specific spectral reflectance into the multivariate water quality estimation model.