National Yang Ming University

Researchers report successful results from a hand-held breast cancer screening device that can detect breast cancer biomarkers from a tiny sample of saliva. Their design uses common components, such as widely available glucose testing strips and the open-source hardware-software platform Arduino. A saliva sample is placed on the paper strip, which has been treated with specific antibodies that interact with the targeted cancer biomarkers. Breast cancer is on the rise, but new tools for early detection could save lives. In Journal of Vacuum Science & Technology B, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the University of Florida and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan reported successful results from a hand-held breast cancer screening device that can detect breast cancer biomarkers from a tiny sample of saliva. Their biosensor design uses common components, such as widely available glucose testing strips and the open-source hardware-software platform Arduino. "Imagine medical staff conducting breast cancer screening in communities or hospitals," author Hsiao-Hsuan Wan said. "Our device is an excellent choice because it is portable -- about the size of your hand -- and reusable. The testing time is under five seconds per sample, which makes it highly efficient." The device uses paper test strips treated with specific antibodies that interact with the targeted cancer biomarkers. A saliva sample is placed on the strip, and pulses of electricity are sent to electrical contact points on the biosensor device. These pulses cause the biomarkers to bind to the antibodies and alter the charge and capacitance over the electrode. This produces a change in the output signal, which can be measured and translated into digital information about how much biomarker is present. The design is revolutionary compared to its alternatives. Mammograms, ultrasounds, and MRIs are costly and invasive and require large, specialized equipment, present low-dose radiation exposure, and can take days or weeks to return test results. "In many places, especially in developing countries, advanced technologies like MRI for breast cancer testing may not be readily available," Wan said. "Our technology is more cost-effective, with the test strip costing just a few cents and the reusable circuit board priced at $5. We are excited about the potential to make a significant impact in areas where people might not have had the resources for breast cancer screening tests before." The biosensor requires just a drop of saliva, and it can provide accurate test results even if the concentration of the cancer biomarker in the sample is only one quadrillionth of a gram, or one femtogram, per milliliter. "The highlight for me was when I saw readings that clearly distinguished between healthy individuals and those with cancer," Wan said. "We dedicated a lot of time and effort to perfecting the strip, board, and other components. Ultimately, we've created a technique that has the potential to help people all around the world."

Researchers have identified a receptor protein known as CHRM1 as a key player in prostate cancer cells' resistance to docetaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy drug to treat advanced cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. The study showed that using the drug dicyclomine to block CHRM1 in resistant prostate cancer cell lines and an animal model based on patient-derived resistant tissue restored docetaxel's ability to kill cells and stop tumor growth. Dicyclomine is already on the market as a drug to treat symptoms of inflammatory bowel syndrome. The discovery opens the door to new combination treatment strategies that could overcome docetaxel resistance in prostate cancer and perhaps other cancers, which could help extend the lives of patients. Researchers have identified a receptor protein known as CHRM1 as a key player in prostate cancer cells' resistance to docetaxel, a commonly used chemotherapy drug to treat advanced cancer that has spread beyond the prostate. The discovery opens the door to new treatment strategies that could overcome this resistance. This could ultimately help extend the lives of those with prostate cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among men. Led by a team of scientists at Washington State University, the study showed that blocking CHRM1 in resistant prostate cancer cell lines and an animal model based on patient-derived resistant tissue restored docetaxel's ability to kill cells and stop tumor growth. The researchers did this by using dicyclomine, a drug that selectively inhibits CHRM1 activity. Dicyclomine is already on the market as a generic drug and is currently used to treat symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. "The effect was pretty dramatic in all the experimental models we tested," said Boyang (Jason) Wu, an associate professor in the WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences and co-senior author on the study. "And because dicyclomine already has a clinical use, this work has immediate translational potential." Published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine, the researchers' findings support clinical testing to confirm whether combined use of docetaxel and dicyclomine could help overcome treatment resistance in prostate cancer patients. Docetaxel resistance can develop in prostate cancer after about six months of treatment. Chemotherapy drugs like docetaxel are among very few options available to patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer, a lethal form of the disease that no longer responds to hormone therapy. Wu said this type of combination therapy could also potentially be used for other cancers that are currently being treated with docetaxel, such as breast and lung cancer. It may also be possible to use the same combination strategy with other similar chemotherapy drugs. In addition to testing resistant cancer cell lines, the research team also tested cells that still responded to docetaxel treatment. They found that using dicyclomine to block CHRM1 in these cells made docetaxel more efficient at killing them. Wu said that this shows that prostate cancer patients could potentially benefit from a combination treatment strategy even before docetaxel resistance develops. "What this suggests is that the lowest effective dose of docetaxel may be lower when the drug is combined with dicyclomine, compared to when docetaxel is used alone," Wu said. "Being able to use a lower dose could help reduce unwanted side effects and make treatment more manageable for patients." Aside from Wu, co-authors on the study include co-senior author Tyler Bland -- a former WSU postdoctoral fellow who is now a clinical assistant professor at the University of Idaho -- as well as co-first authors Jing Wang, a recent WSU PhD graduate, and Jing Wei, a WSU postdoctoral fellow. The research team conducted the study in collaboration with scientists at the University of Washington, Medical University of Innsbruck in Austria and National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan. Funding for this study came from a U.S. Department of Defense Prostate Cancer Research Program grant with additional support provided by the National Cancer Institute, a component of the National Institutes of Health, and WSU College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences startup funds.

TAIPEI, Nov. 8, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (hereafter referred to as NYCU) has maintained a longstanding commitment to the advancement of geriatrics and gerontology research. In 2021, Professor Liang-Kung Chen, affiliated with NYCU's School of Medicine, collaborated with Taipei Veterans General Hospital and the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology in Japan to establish the Physio-Cognitive Decline Syndrome (PCDS) standards. These standards aim to mitigate the risk of subsequent dementia and disability through early and appropriate interventions. While primarily initiated by Taiwanese scholars, this study has sparked global interest, with researchers in Japan, Singapore, and the United Kingdom adopting the innovative symptom definition proposed by Japanese institutions. Continue Reading Professor Liang-Kung Chen, currently serving as the superintendent of Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (Managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital). Liang-Kung Chen, currently serving as the superintendent of Taipei Municipal Gan-Dau Hospital (Managed by Taipei Veterans General Hospital), has drawn attention to the accelerating growth of the older population in Taiwan. Based on statistical reports from the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Taiwan, it has been revealed that approximately 90% of individuals aged 65 and above have at least one chronic illness, while over 51% of them contend with three or more chronic conditions. The older population in Taiwan commonly grapples with a multitude of multimorbidity, physical disabilities, and cognitive impairment, exacerbating their distress and anxiety regarding their health status. In such circumstances, relying solely on disease-centric approaches to assess their care needs would result in significant gaps in care planning. Recognizing this issue, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been advocating a "function-centric" approach to address the health concerns of the aging population since 2015, shifting the focus away from the traditional disease-centric perspective. Henceforth, there exists a pressing necessity for interdisciplinary collaboration and communication among diverse institutions in the foreseeable future. Historically, the healthcare system and medical education have inclined towards specialized divisions pertaining to different organs. However, the integration of knowledge and resources emerges as the pivotal approach to address the challenges posed by an aging society. As an illustration, healthcare institutions often emphasize biological factors of health, while social welfare institutions concentrate on personal and social capabilities. However, in an aging society, older individuals often require simultaneous support from biological, personal, and social dimensions, underscoring the existence of an unaddressed disparity. Effective collaboration among diverse entities necessitates the establishment of a shared language and common values, enabling the provision of suitable medical support to the wider population. Prof. Chen advocates education as the fundamental cornerstone for addressing this matter. NYCU is the exclusive medical institution in Taiwan that mandates geriatrics as a required course in its program. Furthermore, geriatrics is also a compulsory component during internships and aligns with the Ministry of Health and Welfare's one-month geriatrics training in the post-graduate years. This ensures the integration of geriatrics as an indispensable element in the training of all young physicians. Furthermore, NYCU has integrated various topics related to the aging population into its general education curriculum, enabling students from diverse departments and campuses to develop a certain level of awareness regarding the challenges arising from population aging. These courses not only integrate geriatrics with technological advancements but are also accessible to retired faculty and community residents. This inclusive approach expands the awareness of geriatrics beyond the confines of the academic institution, encompassing the local community and, ultimately, the entire nation. "Our curriculum is designed in accordance with international standards," Prof. Chen stated. In addition to facilitating exchanges and courses with international institutes, the university actively encourages students and young doctors to pursue academic studies overseas. They are also encouraged to seek opportunities to engage with scholars and participate in short-term teaching assignments in foreign hospitals and research laboratories. In addition to the aforementioned PCDS, NYCU collaborates with foreign experts and scholars to collect data and research materials in Asia, with the aim of establishing standards for sarcopenia diagnosis in Asia that take into account Asian physical, social, and dietary patterns. The team has undertaken projects similar to Finland's FINGER project, I,e, TIGER program in Taiwan, which aims to prevent disability and dementia in older adults through intervention programs, targeting individuals in both well-functioning and slightly declining states. Moreover, NYCU engages in proactive collaborations with both domestic and international enterprises. For instance, recent collaboration with game manufacturers has facilitated the expansion of rehabilitation and exercise options available to older adults, thereby promoting diversity in their physical and cognitive activities. Additionally, partnerships with digital TV companies have enabled the provision of in-house exercise services to older individuals during the pandemic. These services not only offer entertainment value but also present challenges and foster a sense of accomplishment. Furthermore, the utilization of video games stimulates neurological movement in elderly individuals, while the data collected from these gaming settings can be utilized for further research to generate additional insights. Prof. Chen asserts that future students will encounter different challenges, emphasizing the significance for educational institutions to foster a humanistic mindset that aligns with the core values upheld by physicians when interacting with patients. Within this framework, students are encouraged to effectively apply their acquired knowledge, integrating it with the specific needs of patients, and engaging in collaborative efforts with various institutions. Such an approach enables doctors to adopt a more encompassing perspective regarding patients' conditions, transcending the previous inclination toward "diseases of a person" and embracing a holistic approach to "a person with diseases". By amalgamating their knowledge and available resources, students can formulate more comprehensive healthcare plans. SOURCE National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University NYCU