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.

In-Hospital and One-Year Mortality and Their Predictors in Patients Hospitalized for First-Ever Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Abstract: Introduction Natural history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is punctuated by exacerbations; however, little is known about prognosis of the first-ever COPD exacerbation and variables predicting its outcomes. Materials and Methods A population-based cohort study among COPD patients with their first-ever exacerbations requiring hospitalizations was conducted. Main outcomes were in-hospital mortality and one-year mortality after discharge. Demographics, comorbidities, medications and in-hospital events were obtained to explore outcome predictors. Results The cohort comprised 4204 hospitalized COPD patients, of whom 175 (4%) died during the hospitalization. In-hospital mortality was related to higher age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05 per year; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.06) and Charlson comorbidity index score (OR: 1.08 per point; 95% CI: 1.01–1.15); angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR: 0.61; 95% CI: 0.38–0.98) and β blockers (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.41–0.95) conferred a survival benefit. At one year after discharge, 22% (871/4029) of hospital survivors were dead. On multivariate Cox regression analysis, age and Charlson comorbidity index remained independent predictors of one-year mortality. Longer hospital stay (hazard ratio [HR] 1.01 per day; 95% CI: 1.01–1.01) and ICU admission (HR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.03–1.73) during the hospitalization were associated with higher mortality risks. Prescription of β blockers (HR: 0.79; 95% CI: 0.67–0.93) and statins (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.47–0.91) on hospital discharge were protective against one-year mortality. Conclusions Even the first-ever severe COPD exacerbation signifies poor prognosis in COPD patients. Comorbidities play a crucial role in determining outcomes and should be carefully assessed. Angiotensin II receptor blockers, β blockers and statins may, in theory, have dual cardiopulmonary protective properties and probably alter prognosis of COPD patients. Nevertheless, the limitations inherent to a claims database study, such as the diagnostic accuracy of COPD and its exacerbation, should be born in mind.

Anti-inflammatory effects of isoflavone powder produced from soybean cake.

Abstract: Soybean cake, a byproduct obtained during the processing of soybean oil, has been shown to be a rich source of isoflavones. The objectives of this study were to use soybean cake as raw material for processing into powder and to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity. Eleven treatments, including powders of malonylglucoside, glucoside, acetylglucoside, aglycone, ISO-1, and ISO-2, as well as genistein standard, gamma-PGA, control, normal, and PDTC, were used for evaluation. A total of 77 mice were each provided daily with tube feeding for 4 weeks at a dose of 0.3 mL of aqueous solution from each treatment, and inflammation was induced with intraperitoneal injection of 1 mg/kg of body weight lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results showed that all of the isoflavone powders and genistein standard were effective in inhibiting LPS-induced inflammation, lowering leukocyte number in mice blood and reducing production of IL-1beta, IL-6, NO, and PGE2 in both peritoneal exudate cell supernatant and peritoneal exudate fluid. All of the isoflavone treatments failed to retard T cell proliferation; however, both ISO-1 and ISO-2 could inhibit B cell proliferation. The difference in anti-inflammatory activity was minor between any of the isoflavone treatments.

Activation of IL6/IGFIR Confers Poor Prognosis of HBV-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma through Induction of OCT4/NANOG Expression

Abstract: Purpose: To unravel the role of interleukin (IL)-6 and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I receptor (IGFIR) in expressing stemness-related properties and to evaluate the prognostic values of pluripotent transcription factor OCT4/NANOG, and IGFIR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Experimental Design: Serum levels of IL6 were detected using ELISA assays ( n = 120). The effects of IL6/IGFI on stemness expression in HCC were examined using OCT4 / NANOG promoter luciferase reporter, RNA interference, secondary sphere formation, side population, and xenograft animal models. The OCT4/NANOG protein and phospho-IGFI receptor (p-IGFIR) in tissues were detected by Western blotting ( n = 8) and immunohistochemical staining ( n = 85). OCT4 , NANOG , and IGFIR expression levels in tissues ( n = 191) were analyzed by real-time qRT-PCR and was correlated with early tumor recurrence using the Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Results: A high positive correlation between the expression levels of OCT4/NANOG and IGFIR/p-IGFIR in human HCC tissues was observed. The concurrent expression of OCT4/NANOG/IGFIR was mostly confined to hepatitis B virus (HBV)–related HCC (HBV-HCC) and was significantly correlated with early tumor recurrence. High serum levels of IL6 were significantly correlated with high OCT4/NANOG expression. IL6 stimulated an autocrine IGFI/IGFIR expression STAT3 dependently, which stimulated stemness-related properties in both the cell lines and the xenografted mouse tumors. The inhibition of IGFIR activation by either RNA interference or by treatment with the inhibitor picropodophyllin (PPP) significantly suppressed the IL6-induced stemness-related properties both in vitro and in vivo . Conclusions: The expression of pluripotency-related genes is associated with early tumor recurrence and is regulated by IL6-induced IGF/IGFIR activation, particularly in HBV-HCC. Clin Cancer Res; 21(1); 201–10. ©2014 AACR .

Homing genes, cell therapy and stroke.

Abstract: Stem cell therapies, such as bone marrow transplantation, are a promising strategy for the treatment of stroke Bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) including both hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells (HSCs and MSCs) can exhibit tremendous cellular differentiation in numerous organs BMSCs may also promote structural and functional repair in several organs such as the heart, liver, brain, and skeletal muscle via stem cell plasticity Interestingly, ischemia is known to induce mobilization of BMSCs in both animal models and humans The tissue injury is "sensed" by the stem cells and they migrate to the site of damage and undergo differentiation The plasticity, differentiation, and migratory functions of BMSCs in a given tissue are dependent on the specific signals present in the local micro-environment of the damaged tissue Therefore, the ischemic micro-environment has critical patho-biological functions that are essential for the seeding, expansion, survival, renewal, growth and differentiation of BMSCs in damaged brain remodeling Recent studies have identified the specific molecular signals, such as SDF-1/CXCR4, required for the interaction of BMSCs and damaged host tissues Understanding the exact molecular basis of stem cell plasticity in relation to local ischemic signals could offer new insights to permit better management of stroke and other ischemic disorders The aim of this review is to summarize recent studies into how BMSCs reach, recognize, and function in cerebral ischemic tissues, with particular regard to phenotypical reprogramming of stem cells, or "stem cell plasticity"