First record of the mulberry psyllid Anomoneura mori Schwarz (Hemiptera: Psylloidea: Psyllidae) from Taiwan

Yi-Chang Liao,Man-Miao Yang 한국응용곤충학회 2018 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.21 No.2

The mulberry psyllid Anomoneura mori Schwarz is reported for the first time from Taiwan. This species is associated with the mulberry tree and is a pest of sericulture. Adults and larvae are described and illustrated for identification. The topic of invasive species is further discussed.

THE UPDATED ORBITAL PERIOD OF LOW MASS X-ray BINARY 4U 1323-62

CHUANG, PO-SHENG,CHOU, YI,HU, CHIN-PING,YANG, TING-CHANG,SU, YI-HAO,LIAO, NAI-HUI,HSIEH, HUNG-EN,LIN, CHING-PING The Korean Astronomical Society 2015 天文學論叢 Vol.30 No.2

4U 1323-62, a low mass X-ray binary with an orbital period of 2.94 hr, exhibits periodic X-ray dips, which are due to absorption by the bulge of the outer accretion disk. The purpose of this study is to search for orbital period changes using archived X-ray data over a time span of 20 years. We present our preliminary results from analyzing light curves observed by RXTE, BeppoSAX, XMM-Newton and Suzaku. We used the method proposed by Hu et al. (2008) to estimate dip center time and adopted the Observed - Calculated method to measure changes in period. We obtained an orbital period of 2.941917(36) hr and a period derivative of $\dot{P}_{orb}/P_{orb}=(-9.9{\pm}3.5){\times}10^{-7}yr^{-1}$. The F-test result shows that the quadratic ephemeris is describes the evolution of the dip phases better than the linear ephemeris at a greater than 95% confidence level. More X-ray data collected from the early 80s will be included to further refine the orbital ephemeris.

LONG-TERM VARIATION STUDY OF CATACLYSMIC VARIABLES WITH PALOMAR TRANSIENT FACTORY

YANG, MICHAEL TING-CHANG,CHOU, YI,HU, CHIN-PING,SU, YI-HAO,HSIEH, HUNG-EN,LIN, CHING-PING,CHUANG, PO-SHENG,LIAO, NAI-HUI The Korean Astronomical Society 2015 天文學論叢 Vol.30 No.2

The Palomar Transient Factory is a project making use of a Schmidt 48 inch telescope located on the Palomar Mountain, which is surveying the sky with dynamical cadences. It was deployed in 2009 and the observed sky region is over 1200 square degrees. We have studied the long-term periodic variabilities of the known galactic cataclysmic variables (CVs). More than 20 of the sources had been found to have long term periodic signals, ranging from several tens of days to several hundreds of days. Some possible scenarios are proposed to explain the results, such as a magnetic field change of the companion star, precession of the accretion disk, triple systems and superoutburst cycles. Some preliminary discussion will be presented in this article.

APPLICATIONS OF THE HILBERT-HUANG TRANSFORM ON THE NON-STATIONARY ASTRONOMICAL TIME SERIES

HU, CHIN-PING,CHOU, YI,YANG, TING-CHANG,SU, YI-HAO,HSIEH, HUNG-EN,LIN, CHING-PING,CHUANG, PO-SHENG,LIAO, NAI-HUI The Korean Astronomical Society 2015 天文學論叢 Vol.30 No.2

The development of time-frequency analysis techniques allow astronomers to successfully deal with the non-stationary time series that originate from unstable physical mechanisms. We applied a recently developed time-frequency analysis method, the Hilbert-Huang transform (HHT), to two non-stationary phenomena: the superorbital modulation in the high-mass X-ray binary SMC X-1 and the quasi-periodic oscillation (QPO) of the AGN RE J1034+396. From the analysis of SMC X-1, we obtained a Hilbert spectrum that shows more detailed information in both the time and frequency domains. Then, a phase-resolved analysis of both the spectra and the orbital profiles was presented. From the spectral analysis, we noticed that the iron line production is dominated by different regions of this binary system in different superorbital phases. Furthermore, a pre-eclipse dip lying at orbital phase ~0:6-0:85 was discovered during the superorbital transition state. We further applied the HHT to analyze the QPO of RE J1034+396. From the Hilbert spectrum and the O-C analysis results, we suggest that it is better to divide the evolution of the QPO into three epochs according to their different periodicities. The correlations between the QPO periods and corresponding fluxes were also different in these three epochs. The change in periodicity and the relationships could be interpreted as the change in oscillation mode based on the diskoseismology model.

Poster Session : PS 0148 ; Neurology : Increased Risk of Stroke and Post-Stroke Adverse Events in Patients with Diabetes: Two Nationwide Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Studies

( Yi Chun Chou ),( Chien Chang Liao ),( Ta Liang Chen ) 대한내과학회 2014 대한내과학회 추계학술발표논문집 Vol.2014 No.1

Background: The relationship between diabetes and stroke is not completely understood. This study evaluated stroke risk and post-stroke mortality in patients with diabetes. Methods: We identifi ed 24,027 adults newly diagnosed with diabetes in 2000-2003 using Taiwan`s National Health Insurance Research Database. A comparison cohort of 96,108 adults without diabetes was randomly selected from the same dataset, with frequency matched by age and sex. Stroke events in 2000-2008 were ascertained from medical claims. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of stroke associated with diabetes were calculated. A nested cohort study of 22,348 hospitalized stroke patients between 2000 and 2009 calculated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of adverse events after stroke in patients with and without diabetes. Results: During 821,563 person-years of follow-up, there were 4,629 newly diagnosed stroke cases. The incidences of stroke for people with diabetes and without were 10.1 and 4.5 per 1,000 person-years, respectively (P < 0.0001). Compared with people without diabetes, the adjusted HR of stroke was 1.75 (95% CI 1.64-1.86) for people with diabetes. The ORs of post-stroke pneumonia, urinary tract infection, and mortality associated with diabetes were 1.28 (95% CI 1.10-1.37), 1.57 (95% CI 1.44-1.71), and 1.59 (95% CI 1.36-1.87), respectively. Conclusions: Diabetes was associated with stroke. Patients with diabetes had more adverse events and subsequent mortality after stroke. Prevention of stroke and poststroke adverse events is needed in this susceptible population.

Diabetes risk in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a retrospective cohort study

( Yi-chun Chou ),( Ta-liang Chen ),( Chien-chang Liao ) 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 2019 대한결핵 및 호흡기학회 추계학술대회 초록집 Vol.127 No.-

Background: The relationship between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and diabetes remains incompletely understood. This study evaluated the risk of diabetes in COPD patients with and without exacerbations. Methods: We identified 4671 adults newly diagnosed with COPD exacerbations and 9342 adults newly diagnosed with COPD without exacerbations during 2000-2008 using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database. A comparison cohort of 18684 adults without COPD, matched by age and sex, was randomly selected from the same dataset for the control group. Diabetes events during 2000-2013 were ascertained from medical claims during the follow-up period. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of diabetes associated with COPD with or without exacerbations were calculated. Results: During the follow-up period, the incidences of diabetes for patients without COPD and for patients with COPD without or with exacerbations were 3.4, 4.1 and 7.4 per 1000 person-years, respectively (P < 0.0001). Increased risk of diabetes for patients with COPD without exacerbations (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02-1.17) and COPD with exacerbations (HR 2.18, 95% CI 1.88-2.52) was noted. The associaiton between COPD and diabetes risk was significant in various subgroups. Conclusion: Prevention and intervention strategies for diabetes risk is needed for this susceptible population.

Protective Effects of Influenza Vaccination on the Admission Outcomes of Liver Cancer: A Nationwide Matched Study

( Yi-chun Chou ),( Ta-liang Chen ),( Chien-chang Liao ) 대한간학회 2018 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2018 No.1

Aims: Limited information is available on the association between influenza vaccination (IV) and cancer outcomes. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effects of IV on the out comes of liver cancer. Methods: Using reimbursement claims data of National Health Insurance in Taiwan in 2008-2013, we conducted a matched cohort study including 32330 patients aged ≥20 years underwent inpatient care of liver cancer and 5841 of them received IV within previous one year. Using propensity score matching procedure, we selected 5621 patients with IV and 5621 patients without IV for comparison. Logistic regressions were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of IV associated with complications and in-hospital mortality during admission of liver cancer. Results: Patients with liver cancer receiving IV showed less pneumonia (P<0.0001), septicemia (P<0.0001), urinary tract infection (P<0.0001), and in-hospital mortality (P<0.0001) compared with unvaccinated patients with liver cancer. IV was associated with decreased risk of in-hospital mortality during the cancer admission (OR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.47-0.76) after adjustment. Vaccinated patients with liver cancer also had shorter length of hospital stay (P<0.0001) and lower medical expenditure (P<0.0001) than non-vaccinated patients. Conclusions: Among patients with admission of liver cancer, vaccinated patients showed lower risks of complications and in-hospital mortality compared with unvaccinated patients. Further studies are needed to explain how IV improves outcomes of liver cancer.

Outcomes after Admission of Liver Disease in Patients with Influenza Vaccination: A Nationwide Study

( Yi-chun Chou ),( Chien-chang Liao ),( Ta-liang Chen ) 대한간학회 2017 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2017 No.1

Aims: The influences of influenza vaccination (IV) on outcomes of admission of liver disease are unclear. The purpose of this study is to investigate IV’s effects on pneumonia and mortality after liver disease in geriatric patients. Methods: Using Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database reimbursement claims data from 2008 to 2013, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of 21385 patients aged more than 66 years who admitted to hospitalization due to liver disease (included viral hepatitis, cancer, necrosis of liver, and chronic liver disease) and 21035 had IV before the admission within one year. Multivariate logistic regressions were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of post-admission pneumonia and in-hospital mortality associated with IV. Results: Patients receiving IV showed less pneumonia after liver disease (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.35-0.75). But there was no significant association between IV and in-hospital mortality (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.46-1.56) compared with unvaccinated patients. Conclusions: Vaccinated geriatric patients showed lower risks of pneumonia compared with unvaccinated patients undergoing similar admission of liver disease. Further studies are needed to explain how IV improves the outcomes of liver disease.

Risk and Outcome of Stroke in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: Two Nationwide Studies

( Yi-chun Chou ),( Chien-chang Liao ),( Chun-chuan Shih ) 대한간학회 2016 춘·추계 학술대회 (KASL) Vol.2016 No.1

Aims: The association between liver cirrhosis (LC) and stroke was not completely understood. The purpose of this study is to evaluate stroke risk and post-stroke outcomes in patients with LC. Methods: Using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified 6944 adults aged ≥20 years diagnosed with LC in 2000-2005. Non-LC cohort consisted of 27776 adults randomly selected and matched by age and sex (case-control ratio=1:4). Incident events of stroke occurring after LC from January 1, 2000, through the end of 2009 were identified in the follow-up period. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of stroke associated with LC were calculated. We conducted another nested cohort study consisted of 21267 patients with hospitalization due to stroke between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2010. We calculated the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% CIs of 30-day mortality after stroke in patients with and without LC during admission. Results: The incidences of stroke for people with and without LC were 7.5 and 4.9 per1000 person-years, respectively (P<0.0001). Compared to people without LC, patients with LC had increased risk of stroke (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.52-2.01). The association was significant in both sexes. In the nested cohort study, LC was associated with post-hemorrhage mortality (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.63-2.05) and epilepsy (OR 1.30, 95% CI 1.09-1.56). Conclusions: Patients with LC showed higher risks of stroke and post-stroke mortality. Our findings suggest the urgency of preventing and managing LC by a multidisciplinary medical team for this specific population.

Feline mammary carcinoma-derived extracellular vesicle promotes liver metastasis via sphingosine kinase-1-mediated premetastatic niche formation

Yi-Chih Chang,Hao-Ping Liu,Hsiao-Li Chuang,Jiunn-Wang Liao,Pei-Ling Kao,Hsun-Lung Chan,Ter-Hsin Chen,Yu-Chih Wang 한국실험동물학회 2023 Laboratory Animal Research Vol.39 No.4

Background: Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies of female cats. FMC is highly metastatic and thus leads to poor disease outcomes. Among all metastases, liver metastasis occurs in about 25% of FMC patients. However, the mechanism underlying hepatic metastasis of FMC remains largely uncharacterized. Results: Herein, we demonstrate that FMC-derived extracellular vesicles (FMC-EVs) promotes the liver metastasis of FMC by activating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to prime a hepatic premetastatic niche (PMN). Moreover, we provide evidence that sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) delivered by FMC-EV was pivotal for the activation of HSC and the formation of hepatic PMN. Depletion of SK1 impaired cargo sorting in FMC-EV and the EV-potentiated HSC activation, and abolished hepatic colonization of FMC cells. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings uncover a previously uncharacterized mechanism underlying liver-metastasis of FMC and provide new insights into prognosis and treatment of this feline malignancy.