Fu Jen Catholic University

About: Fu Jen Catholic University is a education organization based out in Taipei, Taiwan. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 6842 authors who have published 9512 publications receiving 171005 citations. The organization is also known as: FJU & Fu Jen.

Prediction of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty outcome: anatomy-based staging system versus severity-based staging system.

Abstract: STUDY OBJECTIVE To evaluate and compare outcomes of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) for obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) using anatomy- and severity-based staging systems. DESIGN Prospective design with a retrospective review. SETTING A tertiary-care, sleep disorder referral center. PATIENTS In total, 110 patients with OSAHS (105 men, 5 women; mean age, 43 years; apnea-hypopnea index, 44.4 +/- 28.8 events per hour; body mass index, 27.1 +/- 3.3 kg/m2). MEASUREMENTS An anatomy-based staging system (stages I-IV) was used to classify patients with OSAHS by examining tongue-palate position, tonsil size, body mass index, and craniofacial deformities. Patients were also classified as having mild, moderate, moderate-severe, or severe OSAHS based on preoperative apnea-hypopnea index from polysomnography (a severity-based staging system). Surgical success was defined as a 50% or greater reduction in the apnea-hypopnea index and a postoperative apnea-hypopnea index of less than 20 events per hour. INTERVENTION UPPP was performed in all patients. RESULTS The overall success rate of UPPP was 78%. Success rates for mild (90%), moderate (73%), moderate-severe (81%), and severe (74%) diseases were similar (p = .10). Conversely, success rates for patients with anatomy-based stages I, II, III, and IV were 100%, 96%, 65%, and 20%, respectively; these rates were significantly different (p < .001). Changes in apnea-hypopnea index were significantly correlated with Friedman tongue position (FTP) (r = -0.33, p = .0004) and tonsil size (r = -0.37, p < .0001). The FTP (odds ratio = 0.43, SE = 0.13, p = .005, 95% confidence interval = 0.24-0.78) and tonsil size (odds ratio = 3.13, SE = 1.53, p = .02, 95% confidence interval = 1.20-8.17), but not the severity-based staging (odds ratio = 0.77, SE = 0.18, p = .283, 95% confidence interval = 0.49-1.23), were predictive of surgical success. CONCLUSION The anatomy-based staging system predicted UPPP outcomes more effectively than did the severity-based staging. The anatomy-based staging system facilitates good case-selection information for counseling patients before UPPP surgery.

Factors influencing visibility and diagnostic yield of transbronchial biopsy using endobronchial ultrasound in peripheral pulmonary lesions.

Abstract: Background and objective: Endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) has increased the diagnostic yield of bronchoscopic biopsy of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPL). However, certain lesions cannot be localized by EBUS, and the factors associated with the visibility of PPL by EBUS have not been investigated. This study evaluated the factors predicting the visualization of EBUS in PPL and the diagnostic yield of EBUS-guided transbronchial biopsy (TBB). Methods: n 2007, 83 patients with PPL underwent EBUS-guided TBB, and their medical records were reviewed and analysed retrospectively. Results: Of the 83 patients examined, EBUS images could not be obtained in 23 patients (28%). Lesion size was a determining factor for the visibility of PPL, with thevisualizationyieldofEBUSinlesions <20 mmbeing significantly lower than that in lesions 20 mm (P < 0.001). A definitive diagnosis of PPL localized by EBUS was established using EBUS-guided TBB in 73% of patients. There were no significant differences in diagnostic yield related to underlying disease, lobar distribution, CT scan appearance or presence of complications.Multivariate analysis revealed that the location of PPL on CT scans and position of the probe were independentpredictorsofthediagnosticyieldbyEBUSguidedTBB (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001,respectively). Conclusions: Lesion size is a significant factor predicting visualization of EBUS for PPL. The location of PPL on CT scans and position of the probe are significantly related to a higher diagnostic yield with EBUSguided TBB.

Nanoemulsion and Nanoliposome Based Strategies for Improving Anthocyanin Stability and Bioavailability

Abstract: Background: Anthocyanins, a flavonoid class of water-soluble pigments, are reported to possess several biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. However, anthocyanins are highly susceptible to degradation in high pH, light, heat, and oxygen during processing and storage. Conventional microencapsulation techniques fail to provide stability to anthocyanins under physiological environments mainly because of their large particle size as well as low zeta potential and encapsulation efficiency. Methods: Nanotechnology provides novel strategies for preparing nanoformulations to enhance the physicochemical stability of anthocyanins. Nanoemulsion and nanoliposome are the two most commonly used nanosystems in pharmaceutical and food-related fields. In this review, an overview of various nanoemulsion and nanoliposome systems reported recently for enhancing stability, bioavailability, and bioactivity of anthocyanins is presented. Results: Anthocyanin nanoemulsions with different oil, water, surfactant, and cosurfactant ratios were prepared from extracts of mangosteen peel, purple sweet potato, cranberry, red cabbage, blueberry, jaboticaba peel, and acai berry and evaluated for their antioxidant activity, enhancement of physicochemical stability, topical skin application, and urinary tract infection. Likewise, unilamellar and multilamellar nanoliposomes were prepared using different types and levels of lecithin without or with cholesterol from anthocyanin standards and extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa, mulberry, elderberry, black carrot, and pistachio green hull for the evaluation of physicochemical and oxidative stability, in vitro bioaccessibility, and melanogenic activity, as well as protective effects against diabetes mellitus and cataract. Conclusion: This review provides an insight into the current nanotechnology updates on enhancement of anthocyanin stability and biological activity.

The first dicarbene double helical mercury complex

Abstract: An intermediate and a double helical complex of mercury with a new tridentate carbene based ligand were obtained and structurally characterized