2016 ANNUAL REVIEW Ministry of Science and Technology

The formation of some amino acid residue groups may be connected with binding to metal ions, and the role of these amino acids in promoting the structural stability of BIGT is the result of autocatalysis, enzymatic activity, and thermal denaturation resulting from four types of single-site Ala mutations. This work is being used to develop garlic-flavored products. Lotus seedpod extract (LSE) is able to effectively protect pancreatic tissue and cells from damage due to oxidative stress via the mechanism of cellular autophagy. LSE can also inhibit liver inflammation and the expression of lipid-forming enzymes, and promote the synthesis of glycogen. LSE can therefore be used to reduce inflammation and the accumulation of lipids in the liver. This research can further explain how LSE extracted from lotus seed pods and its functional component EGC can improve metabolic syndrome. (3) Clinical medicine The field of clinical medicine includes social medicine, engineering medicine, digestive medicine, cardiac medicine, thoracic medicine, neurology, women's and children's medicine, hematology and immune medicine, nephrology/urology/endocrinology, and sensory system medicine. The following research results were obtained in 2016: Research on vascular dementia following strokes relied on whole exome sequencing to find inflammation gene polymorphisms linked with mild cognitive functional impairment. The findings of this research indicated that there were extremely great differences in the distribution of 144 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) causing missense mutations among stroke patients with cognitive functional impairment and members of a control group. This finding can provide information on individuals' genetic susceptibility to vascular cognitive functional impairment following stroke. The use of transpedicular screws in osteoporosis patients commonly leads to postoperative screw loosening, which has long been a major challenge in the field of orthopedics. Recent research has proven that the use of expansion screws and fixation using bone cement can significantly enhance pull- out strength, and compared with various factors such as geometric design of the bone screws, the use of bone cement constitutes the most important factor influencing the effectiveness of expansion screw fixation. Researchers using the Taiwan Clinical Trial Consortium for Helicobacter and Gastrointestinal Diseases' platform to perform multi-center clinical trials found that bismuth-containing quadruple therapy yielded the best therapeutic effectiveness, and was pharmacology, immunity and testing, pharmacology, and traditional Chinese pharmacology. The following research results were obtained in 2016: The discovery of a new site regulating glycine and the GABAA receptor may prompt novel thinking concerning glycine and GABAA receptor regulating drugs. A study found that, apart from being able to accumulate in tissues or organs, and directly influence their functions, nanometer gold can also influence the endothelial cell barrier and increase its permeability, which can indirectly cause greater sensitivity to endogenous toxins in living organisms. Researchers relied on animal experiments to verify that social isolation during one's early years will cause an abnormal increase in NMDA receptors within the hippocampus, which may be a factor in the abnormally violent behavior that such individuals may exhibit when encountering stress following adulthood. The findings of this research may lead to the development of new drug strategies for treating violent behavior. It was successfully confirmed that modification following protein translation in human mesenchymal stem cells during the process of adipose differentiation affects the mechanism controlling changes in energy metabolism, which may have a significant impact on the development of new clinical drugs for diabetes and insulin intolerance. Research proved that the drug Sorafenib, which is used in targeted therapy of liver cancer, and its chemical derivatives can specifically inhibit the androgen signal transmission pathway in the liver via the liver-specific protein SHP1, and will not affect the male reproductive system. As a consequence, SHP1 can reduce the occurrence of liver cancer in men, while also preserving normal male reproductive function, and therefore presents a possible new direction in the development of liver cancer prevention drugs. Development of a molecular probe for the 7 th serotonin receptor as a promising PET drug: Researchers have developed a molecular probe for the 7 th serotonin receptor as a promising PET drug for use in the treatment of diseases of the central nervous system, such as sleep disorders, depression, schizophrenia, epilepsy, and migraine. Basic research on the use of acupuncture to treat Parkinson's disease has suggested the possible use of acupuncture in treatment of Parkinson's disease in order to increase the economic effectiveness of drug therapy. Research employing proteomics and transcriptomics technology to investigate the functional mechanism of Jinchuang Ointment verified the effectiveness of this traditional Chinese medicine and helped promote its usage, which will enhance human welfare. Support for Academic Research Ministry of Science and Technology 39