Clinical Research Directory

The Association Between Deep Endometriosis and the Occurrence of Colorectal Carcinoma

The goal of this study is to identify the molecular or genetic mechanisms that may predispose patients with bowel endometriosis to an increased risk of colorectal carcinoma. The study will include patients for whom surgical treatment of bowel endometriosis is clinically indicated. This research would represent a significant advancement in evaluating the necessity of surgical intervention in asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms. Furthermore, it would provide a broader insight into the systemic impact of endometriosis on other organ systems, ultimately improving risk assessment and preventive measures.

Liver Disease and Other Systemic Diseases

Examine the association of chronic liver diseases (including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, alcoholic liver disease, fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma) with other systemic diseases by retrospectively analyzing the data from the Hospital Database of Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation.

Study on the Probiotics Regulating miRNA in H. Pylori-induced Wnt/β-catenin Gastric Carcinogenesis.

Background. H. pylori has recognized as a type 1 carcinogen for gastric adenocarcinoma. Although H. pylori eradication promises to reduce the risk of gastric cancer, the regression rate of intestinal metaplasia (IM) after eradication is unsatisfactory. Therefore, to find the mechanism of IM persistent and a new strategy to improve IM regression are critical for reducing gastric cancer development. The canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway upregulating cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) transcriptional activity involves gastric carcinogenesis after H. pylori infection. Investigators have established an in vitro model that H. pylori induces a cagA-dependent nuclear COX-2 expression in both GES-1 and AGS cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of widespread non-coding RNAs and have been shown to involve in the gastric carcinogenesis. Among these gastric cancer-related miRNA candidates, some were reported to interact with Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Clinically, H. pylori eradication plus celecoxib therapy results in about one-third cases being IM regression, which correlated to the nuclear β-catenin and COX-2 expression before treatment. Based on the probiotics ingestion can ameliorate H. pylori-induced inflammatory pathways, investigators hypothesis that H. pylori eradication with probiotics supplement may promote IM regression through regulating certain miRNAs and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The aims of this 3-year grant will 1. to establish the H. pylori induces the Wnt/beta-catenin and COX-2 signaling pathway in vitro. 2. to investigate the effects and mechanisms of L. acidophilus and B. latis on H. pylori-induced Wnt/beta-catenin oncogenesis pathway. 3. to study whether probiotics ingestion promote IM regression or ameliorate IM progression in H. pylori-infected patients after successful eradication therapy. Materials and Methods. A H. pylori (HP238) isolate strain, GES-1, and AGS cells will be used for in vitro study. The protein levels of cell tests will measured by western blot. The differences of miRNAs expression between monk, cells infected with H. pylori, and cells pretreated with probiotics than infected by H. pylori will be analyzed by next generation sequencing method. H. pylori-infected patients with IM will be randomly allocated to receive probiotics or controls, the 2nd endoscopy will be arranged at the 12th month to evaluate the IM status. Anticipated results. This study will to establish the H. pylori-induced Wnt/beta-catenin oncogenesis pathway in vitro. Furthermore, the effect and mechanism of probiotics inhibit the H. pylori-induced Wnt/beta-catenin signaling will be clarified. Finally, investigators will provide an evidence for the probiotics ingestion promote the rate of IM regression in patients after H. pylori eradication.

Improvements in Thyroid Tumor Surgery and the Prognosis, Diagnosis, Recurrence and Metastasis of Patients

The objective of this research is to investigate the clinical outcomes of modified surgical techniques such as omitting the cervical linea alba suture in transthoracic endoscopic thyroidectomy. Furthermore, the study requires the collection of normal thyroid tissues, benign and malignant thyroid tumors, and lymph nodes to further clarify the mechanisms associated with the initiation, progression, metastasis, and recurrence of thyroid cancer.