Background: Resistin, adipocyte-secreting adipokine, may play critical role in modulating cancer pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of resistin on HCC adhesion to the endothelium, and the mechanism underlying these resistin effects.Methods: Human SK-Hep1 cells were used to study the effect of resistin on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) expressions as well as NF-κB activation, and hence cell adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). 5-Aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR), an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, was used to determine the regulatory role of AMPK on HCC adhesion to the endothelium in regard to the resistin effects.Results: Treatment with resistin increased the adhesion of SK-Hep1 cells to HUVECs and concomitantly induced NF-κB activation, as well as ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions in SK-Hep1 cells. Using specific blocking antibodies and siRNAs, we found that resistin-induced SK-Hep1 cell adhesion to HUVECs was through NF-κB-regulated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expressions. Moreover, treatment with AICAR demonstrated that AMPK activation in SK-Hep1 cells significantly attenuates the resistin effect on SK-Hep1 cell adhesion to HUVECs.Conclusions: These results clarify the role of resistin in inducing HCC adhesion to the endothelium and demonstrate the inhibitory effect of AMPK activation under the resistin stimulation. Our findings provide a notion that resistin play an important role to promote HCC metastasis and implicate AMPK may be a therapeutic target to against HCC metastasis.

Background: Sexual dysfunction occurs commonly in patients with psychiatric illness and may be related to the primary mental disorder, comorbidity with sexual disorders or medical illness, or medications used for mental disorders treatment, but the magnitude of this problem is unknown. Aim: To estimate the prevalence of current sexual activity, sexual dysfunction, and sexual attitude and influence of factors on patients with schizophrenia. Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design with a total of 317 patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. The subjects completed a demographic questionnaire, sexual attitude scale, sexual dysfunction scale, and sexual behavior scale. Descriptive analysis, difference analysis, and logistic regression model were used to identify relevant variables that may affect sexual life quality. Outcomes: Age, sexual satisfaction, and patient symptoms may predict sexual life quality on patients with schizophrenia. Results: The mean age of patients was 47.71 ± 9.54 years old. About the sexual activities, 53% of subjects had sexual intercourse experience, and 41.3% reported currently having sexual intercourse. The mean ± SD age for first sexual intercourse was 20.83 ± 5.95 years old (median was 20.0 years old). Moreover, women older than 50 years had significantly higher medians for the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) score, higher proportions of sexual dysfunction, and lower proportions of feeling important to sexual life quality than men. For participants with age ≤50 years old, there was a significant relationship among BPRS group (mean score >2.5 vs ≤2.5), sexual dysfunction (P < .001), sexual life quality (P < .001), and sexual satisfaction (P = .006). Among the predictors of feeling important to sexual life quality, sexual satisfaction (odds ratio = 7.005, 95% CI = 4.126–11.892, P < .001) and BPRS score (odds ratio = 4.501, 95% CI = 2.042–9.923, P < .001) were significant independent factors after adding the interaction of age group and BPRS group. Clinical Translation: This study also reveals the close relationship between sexual satisfaction and BPRS score, which may predict sexual life quality of patients with schizophrenia. Limitations include the possibility of underreporting and bias associated with self-report measurement. Conclusion: Sexual life quality and sexual dysfunction on patients with schizophrenia are associated with interaction among psychological, sociological, and biochemical-pharmacological factors.

Relatively few studies have addressed the risk factors of erectile dysfunction (ED) in Taiwanese— most have described ED and medical problems in the general population. In this study, the cardiovascular risk factors of ED among aborigines in Taiwan were investigated. However, alcohol dependence (AD) was prevalent in Taiwan’s aborigine population. So this study also focused on the relationship among AD, the cardiovascular risk factors and ED. A cross-sectional study was conducted, and data was obtained from a baseline survey of 192 aboriginal adults (35-75 years of age). The participants’ demographic data, AD, markers of endothelial function, serum testosterone, and ED status were assessed. Ninety-four (49%) of the 192 participants had a history of alcoholism and 79 (84%) of those with alcoholism had ED. The study reported that AD and hyperlipidemia, metabolic syndrome (MetS), ED, abnormality of testosterone, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein are highly prevalent among the aborigines. Factors that may affect ED included age, AD, central obesity, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, MetS, and testosterone. ED is highly prevalent among aborigines with the risk factors of AD, MetS, old age, and abnormal testosterone serum level. MetS, atherosclerosis, and ED are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Hence, an increased focus on Taiwanese aborigines with ED is necessary.

Background and Objective: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity in male Taiwanese is very high, but the impacts on MetS, sexuality and sex hormones, inflammation markers in male erectile dysfunction (ED) are not entirely clear in relevance. This study aim is to investigate males with MetS and its components, sex hormones, inflammatory risk factors, sexuality and ED correlation. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 89 male participants, and data collected included demographic data, biochemistry, sex hormones, inflammatory risk factors and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) questionnaire. Descriptive analysis, difference analysis, and logistic regression model were used to identify relevant variables that may affect ED. Result: Among our 89 subjects, 46 had MetS (51.7%) and 31 subjects with MetS had ED (67.4%). The presence of MetS had a significant correlation with lower IIEF-ED scores, lower intercourse satisfaction scores, lower total testosterone (TT) serum level (p<0.01) and also presence of MetS had a significant correlation with higher D-dimer, fibrinogen and CRP serum level. The results also showed that the greater the number of MetS components had the higher the prevalence of ED and the higher the abnormal CRP, fibrinogen and D-dimer (p<0.05). After adjusting for age, we used sexual desire dysfunction, Met S and TT abnormal to run the logistic regression model for predictors of ED, and the analysis showed that there was a significant difference for sexual desire dysfunction (OR=8.845, 95% CI=2.203- 35.516, P=0.002), Met S (OR=4.1009.70, 95% CI=1.343- 12.520, P=0.013) and TT abnormal (OR=3.287, 95% CI=1.022- 10.570, P=0.046). Conclusion: To prevent the development of ED, we should encourage a change in lifestyle to prevent the development of MetS, and early identification and treatment of MetS risk factors might be helpful to prevent ED and secondary cardiovascular disease, including diet and lifestyle interventions.

Background: Military conscripts may experience a change in their attitude towards sex at times when sexual urges are at their peak during their physical growth. This study examines the experience, understanding, knowledge and attitudes regarding sexual activity of the military conscripts. Methods: Data was obtained from a cross-sectional survey of 1127 young adult military conscripts, and were evaluated in Southern Taiwan from January to July 2009, their demographic data, sexual knowledge, attitudes and activities were assessed. Results: Nearly 43% of the participants had performed penetrative vaginal intercourse at least once; 34% of the participants performed heterosexual oral sex at least once; almost 7% of participants had had homosexual intercourse, and 7.5% of participants had experienced homosexual oral sex in the past year. The mean sexual knowledge score based on 30 questions was 23.2 ± 4.0. The higher the educational level of the participants, the greater sexual knowledge they had obtained. Conclusion: This study found that 43% of unmarried young recruits had experienced premarital sexual activity. However, their sexual knowledge was insufficient and should be strengthened by sex education from an earlier age. College aged and adult learners also have sex education needs, especially with regard to integrating sexuality and life, being able to relate responsibly as sexual beings to others, the use of contraception, and about sexually transmitted disease. Keywords: Young recruits, Sexual behavior, Sexual knowledge, Sex education