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1.
Exploring the possible relationship between skin microbiome and brain cognitive functions: a pilot EEG study.
Wang, PC, Rajput, D, Wang, XF, Huang, CM, Chen, CC
Scientific reports. 2024;(1):7774
Abstract
Human microbiota mainly resides on the skin and in the gut. Human gut microbiota can produce a variety of short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) that affect many physiological functions and most importantly modulate brain functions through the bidirectional gut-brain axis. Similarly, skin microorganisms also have identical metabolites of SCFAs reported to be involved in maintaining skin homeostasis. However, it remains unclear whether these SCFAs produced by skin bacteria can affect brain cognitive functions. In this study, we hypothesize that the brain's functional activities are associated with the skin bacterial population and examine the influence of local skin-bacterial growth on event-related potentials (ERPs) during an oddball task using EEG. Additionally, five machine learning (ML) methods were employed to discern the relationship between skin microbiota and cognitive functions. Twenty healthy subjects underwent three rounds of tests under different conditions-alcohol, glycerol, and water. Statistical tests confirmed a significant increase in bacterial population under water and glycerol conditions when compared to the alcohol condition. The metabolites of bacteria can turn phenol red from red-orange to yellow, confirming an increase in acidity. P3 amplitudes were significantly enhanced in response to only oddball stimulus at four channels (Fz, FCz, and Cz) and were observed after the removal of bacteria when compared with that under the water and glycerol manipulations. By using machine learning methods, we demonstrated that EEG features could be separated with a good accuracy (> 88%) after experimental manipulations. Our results suggest a relationship between skin microbiota and brain functions. We hope our findings motivate further study into the underlying mechanism. Ultimately, an understanding of the relationship between skin microbiota and brain functions can contribute to the treatment and intervention of diseases that link with this pathway.
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2.
Supplementation with Lactiplantibacillus brevis GKEX Combined with Resistance Exercise Training Improves Muscle Mass, Strength Performance, and Body Fat Condition in Healthy Humans.
Lee, MC, Hsu, YJ, Ho, CS, Tsai, YS, Chen, CC, Huang, CC
Foods (Basel, Switzerland). 2024;(7)
Abstract
In addition to maintaining good exercise and dietary habits, recent studies have shown that probiotics may have potential benefits for muscle mass and strength. It is worth noting that the effects may vary depending on the specific strains used. To date, no studies have analyzed the effects of Lactiplantibacillus brevis in this context. Here, we combine the L. brevis strain GKEX with resistance training to further understand its effects on muscle mass, thickness, performance, and fat loss. In a six-week intervention for a double-blind randomized trial, 52 healthy subjects were divided into two groups (10 male and 16 female participants in each group): a placebo group (two capsules/day, containing 0 CFU of GKEX per capsule) and a GKEX group (two capsules/day, containing 1 × 1010 CFU of GKEX per capsule). Before the intervention, no differences were observed between the two groups in any of the tests (body composition, muscle thickness, exercise performance, and blood parameters). However, supplementation with GKEX significantly improved muscle mass and thickness, as well as grip strength, muscle strength, and explosive performance, when compared to the associated parameters before the intervention. Additionally, GKEX supplementation promoted a reduction in the body fat percentage (p < 0.05). Through analysis of the change amount, we observed that GKEX supplementation yielded significantly improved benefits when compared to the placebo group (p < 0.05). In summary, our findings support the notion that a six-week resistance exercise training program combined with L. brevis GKEX supplementation has superior additive effects that enhance muscle mass and strength performance, while also reducing body fat percentage. This intervention can promote muscle gain and fat loss.
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3.
The expert consensus on care and education for patients with diabetic kidney disease in Taiwan.
Hsu, CY, Yeh, CY, Yen, TY, Chen, CC, Chen, JF, Chu, CH, Huang, CN, Lin, CL, Lin, SY, Liu, FH, et al
Primary care diabetes. 2024
Abstract
Increasing prevalence of type 2 DM (T2DM) and diabetic kidney disease (DKD) has posed a great impact in Taiwan. However, guidelines focusing on multidisciplinary patient care and patient education remain scarce. By literature review and expert discussion, we propose a consensus on care and education for patients with DKD, including general principles, specifics for different stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD), and special populations. (i.e. young ages, patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease or heart failure, patients after acute kidney injury, and kidney transplant recipients). Generally, we suggest performing multidisciplinary patient care and education in alignment with the government-led Diabetes Shared Care Network to improve the patients' outcomes for all patients with DKD. Also, close monitoring of renal function with early intervention, control of comorbidities in early stages of CKD, and nutrition adjustment in advanced CKD should be emphasized.
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4.
Acidosis-related pain and its receptors as targets for chronic pain.
Hung, CH, Chin, Y, Fong, YO, Lee, CH, Han, DS, Lin, JH, Sun, WH, Chen, CC
Pharmacology & therapeutics. 2023;:108444
Abstract
Sensing acidosis is an important somatosensory function in responses to ischemia, inflammation, and metabolic alteration. Accumulating evidence has shown that acidosis is an effective factor for pain induction and that many intractable chronic pain diseases are associated with acidosis signaling. Various receptors have been known to detect extracellular acidosis and all express in the somatosensory neurons, such as acid sensing ion channels (ASIC), transient receptor potential (TRP) channels and proton-sensing G-protein coupled receptors. In addition to sense noxious acidic stimulation, these proton-sensing receptors also play a vital role in pain processing. For example, ASICs and TRPs are involved in not only nociceptive activation but also anti-nociceptive effects as well as some other non-nociceptive pathways. Herein, we review recent progress in probing the roles of proton-sensing receptors in preclinical pain research and their clinical relevance. We also propose a new concept of sngception to address the specific somatosensory function of acid sensation. This review aims to connect these acid-sensing receptors with basic pain research and clinical pain diseases, thus helping with better understanding the acid-related pain pathogenesis and their potential therapeutic roles via the mechanism of acid-mediated antinociception.
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5.
Comparisons of electrophysiological markers of impaired executive attention after traumatic brain injury and in healthy aging.
Kim, N, Jamison, K, Jaywant, A, Garetti, J, Blunt, E, RoyChoudhury, A, Butler, T, Dams-O'Connor, K, Khedr, S, Chen, CC, et al
NeuroImage. 2023;:120126
Abstract
Executive attention impairments are a persistent and debilitating consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI). To make headway towards treating and predicting outcomes following heterogeneous TBI, cognitive impairment specific pathophysiology first needs to be characterized. In a prospective observational study, we measured EEG during the attention network test aimed at detecting alerting, orienting, executive attention and processing speed. The sample (N = 110) of subjects aged 18-86 included those with and without traumatic brain injury: n = 27, complicated mild TBI; n = 5, moderate TBI; n = 10, severe TBI; n = 63, non-brain-injured controls. Subjects with TBI had impairments in processing speed and executive attention. Electrophysiological markers of executive attention processing in the midline frontal regions reveal that, as a group, those with TBI and elderly non-brain-injured controls have reduced responses. We also note that those with TBI and elderly controls have responses that are similar for both low and high-demand trials. In subjects with moderate-severe TBI, reductions in frontal cortical activation and performance profiles are both similar to that of controls who are ∼4 to 7 years older. Our specific observations of frontal response reductions in subjects with TBI and in older adults is consistent with the suggested role of the anterior forebrain mesocircuit as underlying cognitive impairments. Our results provide novel correlative data linking specific pathophysiological mechanisms underlying domain-specific cognitive deficits following TBI and with normal aging. Collectively, our findings provide biomarkers that may serve to track therapeutic interventions and guide development of targeted therapeutics following brain injuries.
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6.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of the Mechanical Properties of a Fiber-Reinforced Geopolymer Mortar Blast Resistant Panel.
Chen, CC, Tsai, YK, Lin, YK, Ho, PH, Kuo, CY
Polymers. 2023;(16)
Abstract
Geopolymer materials have excellent properties such as high strength, low thermal conductivity, fire resistance, acid and alkali resistance, and low carbon emissions. They can be used as protective engineering materials in places with explosion risks. At present, the common composite blast resistant panel is in the form of a sandwich: the outer layer isgalvanized steel plate, and fiber cement board or calcium carbonate board is used as the inner layer material, as these boards have the advantages of easy installation, good fire resistance, and explosion resistance. This study investigates the effect of adding different types of fibers to geopolymer mortar on the mortar's basic mechanical properties, such as compression strength, bending strength, and impact resistance. The explosive resistance of the fiber-reinforced geopolymer mortar blast resistant panels was evaluated through free-air explosion. In this paper, experimental procedures and numerical simulation have been performed to study the failure modes, maximum deflection, and dynamic response of the fiber-reinforced geopolymer mortar blast resistant panel under free-air explosion. The research results can provide a reference for the design and production of blast resistant panels.
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7.
Novel Contribution of Long Non-coding RNA MEG3 Genotype to Prediction of Childhood Leukemia Risk.
Pei, JS, Chang, WS, Chen, CC, Mong, MC, Hsu, SW, Hsu, PC, Hsu, YN, Wang, YC, Tsai, CW, Bau, DT
Cancer genomics & proteomics. 2022;(1):27-34
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Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is frequent among children. Few studies have researched the relationship between maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) and cancer risk. We hypothesized long non-coding RNA MEG3 polymorphisms might influence the risk of childhood ALL. MATERIALS AND METHODS In a total of 266 patients with childhood ALL and 266 healthy controls, genotypes of MEG3 rs7158663, rs3087918, rs11160608 and rs4081134 single nucleotide polymorphisms were investigated for their associations with childhood ALL. RESULTS MEG3 rs7158663 AG and AA genotypes were significantly associated with ALL [odds ratio=1.61 (95% confidence interval=1.12-2.31) and 2.21 (1.16-4.22), respectively]. The A allele also exhibited a statistical association with higher risk of ALL (p=0.0015). There was no positive association as for rs3087918, rs11160608 or rs4081134. Interestingly, a significant interaction between MEG3 rs7158663 and age (≥3.5 years) and gender (male) was found. CONCLUSION MEG3 rs7158663 AG/AA genotypes were associated with higher susceptibility to childhood ALL. These novel findings should be validated in larger populations and different ethnicities.
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Benchmark dose in the presence of coexposure to melamine and diethylhexyl phthalate and urinary renal injury markers in pregnant women.
Chen, CC, Wang, YH, Wu, CF, Hsieh, CJ, Wang, SL, Chen, ML, Tsai, HJ, Li, SS, Liu, CC, Tsai, YC, et al
Environmental research. 2022;(Pt 1):114187
Abstract
Environmental exposures to mixtures of toxic chemicals have potential interaction effects that may lead to hazard index values exceeding one. However, current regulation levels, such as tolerable daily intake (TDI), are mostly based on experimental studies conducted with a single chemical compound. In this study, we assessed the relationships between melamine and di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) exposure and their coexposure with the early renal injury markers N-acetyl -D-glucosaminidase (NAG), albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR), and microalbuminuria in 1236 pregnant women. Various generalized linear models with interaction terms and Bayesian kernel machine regression models were used for the (co-)exposure response associations. We derived the benchmark dose (BMD) and the corresponding one-sided 95% confidence bound BMDL based on the estimated (covariate-adjusted) average daily intake of melamine and DEHP metabolites measured in spot urine of the women collected during the third trimester. Given a benchmark response of 0.1, the BMDL level of melamine (DEHP) exposure on NAG (ACR, microalbuminuria) was 2.67 (11.20, 4.45) μg/kg_bw/day, and it decreased to as low as 1.46 (3.83, 2.73) μg/kg_bw/day when considering coexposure to DEHP (melamine) up to the 90th percentile. Both the exposure threshold levels of melamine and DEHP for early renal injuries in pregnant women were several-fold to one order lower than the current recommended TDIs by the WHO and the US FDA and EPA and were even lower considering coexposure. Because of concurrent exposures in real-world environments, more stringent regulation levels are recommended in susceptible populations, such as pregnant women, due to potential synergistic mixture effects.
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9.
Lonicerae Japonicae Flos Attenuates Neutrophilic Inflammation by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress.
Lai, KH, Chen, YL, Lin, MF, El-Shazly, M, Chang, YC, Chen, PJ, Su, CH, Chiu, YC, Illias, AM, Chen, CC, et al
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland). 2022;(9)
Abstract
Lonicerae japonicae flos (LJ) is an Asian traditional herb that is used as a dietary supplement, tea, and beverage to clear heat and quench thirst. However, no studies investigated its effect on activated human neutrophils, which played a crucial role in the bad prognosis of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) patients by aggravating lung inflammation and respiratory failure. Herein, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of LJ ethanol extract (LJEE) on human neutrophils activated by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLF). Our experimental results indicated that LJEE suppressed fMLF-activated superoxide anion (O2•-) generation, the expression of CD11b, and cell adhesion and migration, as well as the formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in human neutrophils. Further in-depth mechanical investigation revealed that pretreatment with LJEE accelerated the Ca2+ clearance, but did not affect the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and protein kinase B (Akt) in activated human neutrophils. In addition, LJEE displayed a dose-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger activity, which assisted its anti-inflammatory activity. From the bioassay-coupled chromatographic profile, chlorogenic acids were found to dominate the anti-inflammatory effects of LJEE. Moreover, LJ water extract (LJWE) demonstrated an interrupting effect on the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 spike protein (SARS-CoV-2-Spike)/angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) binding. In conclusion, the obtained results not only supported the traditional use of LJ for heat-clearance, but also suggested its potential application in daily health care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Antibacterial ability and osteogenic activity of polyphenol-tailored calcium silicate bone cement.
Wu, IT, Chu, YH, Huang, YR, Chen, CC, Ding, SJ
Journal of materials chemistry. B. 2022;(24):4640-4649
Abstract
Calcium silicate-based cement (CSC) has attracted much interest because of its favourable osteogenic effect that supports its clinical use. Although CSC has antibacterial activity, this activity still needs to be improved when used in an infected bone defect. Natural polyphenols have been considered antimicrobial reagents. To this end, three different types of polyphenols (gallic acid (GA), pyrogallol (PG) and tannic acid (TA)) with different concentrations as a liquid phase were mixed with bioactive calcium silicate to enhance the antibacterial activity of CSC. The setting time, antibacterial activity, and osteogenic activity of CSC were studied. Evaluation of antibacterial ability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) was performed using Gram-negative Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria, while a human osteoblast-like cell line (MG63) was used to examine osteogenic activity. The experimental results showed that the addition of polyphenols did not remarkably affect the phase composition and morphology of CSC, but changed the setting time and diametral tensile strength. At the same concentration of 1 wt%, the setting time of TA (21 min) was significantly shorter than that of PG (26 min) and GA (68 min), and was indistinguishable from the control cement (20 min). GA had a significantly higher antioxidant activity than PG and TA. As expected, higher concentrations of polyphenols had a more positive impact on ROS generation. More importantly, the incorporation of polyphenols greatly enhanced the antibacterial activity of CSC against E. coli and S. aureus, but had little effect on the in vitro osteogenic activity of MG63 cells and the cytotoxicity of L929 cells. It was concluded that among the three phenolic compounds, the optimal concentration of the liquid phase in the hybrid cement was 5 wt% TA in terms of setting time, strength, antibacterial activity and in vitro osteogenic activity.