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Aim: To investigate whether chimerin 2 (CHN2) genetic polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility to diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Taiwanese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Methods: This case-control study comprised of 171 individuals with DR and 548 without DR. Four rs39059, rs2023908, rs1002630 and rs1362363 polymorphism of CHN2 were genotyped for each subjects. All subjects underwent a complete ophthalmologic examination, and basic information (age, gender, age at diagnosis of diabetes, and ocular history of the patient) was record. Several clinical parameters (systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist and hip circumferences, body mass index levels, fasting glucose and HbA1c) were measured. Results: Logistic regressions were used to analyze odds ratios between SNPs and DR after controlling for gender, systolic blood pressure, waist and hip ratio, duration of diabetes, serum HbA1c levels and nephropathy classification. A protective effect of rs1002630 (GA + AA) and rs1362363 (AG + GG) [odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) = 0.45 (0.22-0.88), 0.66 (0.44-0.99), respectively) was observed. Furthermore, the protective effect of rs1002630 was observed when compared subjects with non-proliferative DR with subjects without DR [OR = 0.25 (95%C.I. = 0.09-0.73)]. Conclusions: This study showed that the rs1002630 of CHN2 were associatedwith DR risk and non-proliferative DR risk in Taiwanese individuals with type 2 diabetes. Variations at this locus may contribute to the pathogenesis of DR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To treat intractable hematuria with intravesical instillation of epinephrine. Sixty patients were treated with intravesical instillation of epinephrine at Mackay Memorial Hospital. The control group was composed of 60 patients who were treated with standard-of-care cystoscopic electrocautery fulguration. Under general anesthesia, epinephrine-treated group were injected with 150 mL of diluted epinephrine (1:10,000) through cystoscopy, followed by bladder irrigation with 1:100,000-diluted epinephrine at the ward. Successful hemostasis was defined as hematuria resolution within 1 month post-treatment without additional invasive procedures. In the 60 patients who underwent intravesical instillation of epinephrine, radiation cystitis was the most common etiology (65.0%). Fifty-two patients (86.7%) required no additional therapy within 1 month after one course of intravesical epinephrine instillation treatment compared with 28 patients (46.7%) in the electrocautery fulguration-control group (P <.001). We observed a significant decrease in both the median length of hospitalization (P =.049) and the need for additional invasive procedures (P <.001) in the epinephrine group. In addition, cardiopulmonary monitoring of mean blood pressure, mean heart rate, and mean respiratory rate demonstrated no significant differences after epinephrine treatment. In this study, intravesical instillation of epinephrine was an innovative method of hemostasis for intractable lower urinary tract hematuria with a success rate of 86.7%, compared to 46.7% in the control group, and significantly reduced the number of additional procedures required and the length of hospitalization. It was well-tolerated by all patients, and was a safe and effective treatment modality for intractable hematuria or bladder hemorrhage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To determine the association of a common variant, rs1447295, at the 8q24 region with prostate cancer (PCa) risk in Taiwanese men. Common variants at the 8q24 region have been shown to be associated with PCa risk. The variant rs1447295 has shown the strongest association. Most of the studies have been performed in European and American populations. Methods: This case-control study comprised 340 PCa patients and 337 controls. Genotyping was performed for rs14417295 to test for the association between its risk allele and PCa. Its association with disease stage, Gleason score, PSA level, and disease aggressiveness was also determined. Results: The A allele of rs1447295 was significantly associated with increased PCa risk (odds ratio = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.12-1.99). When compared with controls, the risk allele A was more frequent in PCa patients of both stages I+II (P = .028) and stages III+IV (P = .023), in patients of all Gleason scores (P < .05 in all subgroups), in patients with PSA levels >20 ng/mL (P = .001), and in patients with aggressive disease (P = .005). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the A allele of rs1447295 is associated with a high risk of PCa in Taiwanese men. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: The CYP19 gene encodes aromatase—a key enzyme involved in the conversion of androstenedione/testosterone to estrone/estradiol. In this study, we analyzed the association between the TCT insertion (Ins)/deletion (Del) and TTTA repeat polymorphisms of CYP19 and prostate cancer (PCa). Methods: Automated sequencer with GeneScan software was used to determine the CYP19 gene polymorphisms in peripheral blood mononuclear cell DNA from 244 patients with PCa and 261 age-matched healthy male controls. The distribution of Stage I to IV was 3.4%, 23.8%, 19.6%, and 53.2%, respectively. The Gleason score was 2 to 5 in 22.9%, 6 to 7 in 53.2%, and 8 to 10 in 23.8%. Results: The frequency of the TCT Del/Del genotype in the Taiwanese patients with PCa (12.3%) was significantly greater than that in the controls (5.4%; P = 0.015, odds ratio [OR] 2.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23 to 4.80). Individuals with a homozygous A1 (seven TTTA repeats) genotype had a significantly greater risk of developing PCa (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.44, P = 0.044). The frequency of the Ins-A6 (12 TTTA repeats) haplotype was significantly greater in the control group than in the patient group (9.8% versus 6.1%, OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.97). The OR of developing PCa for men with the homozygous Del-A1 diplotype was 2.31 (95% CI 1.10 to 4.83). Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that the CYP19 TCT Del/Del genotype might be a susceptibility marker for PCa. Men with the Ins-A6 haplotype had a lower risk of developing PCa. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Ethnopharmacological relevance Gynura divaricata subsp. formosana is a widely used traditional herbal medicine for treating liver disorders such as hepatitis and liver cancer in Taiwan. Aim of the study This study was aimed to evaluate the anti-cancer and cancer stabilization effect of water extract of the aerial part of G. divaricata (GD extract) both in vitro and in vivo . Materials and methods Cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative effects of GD extract alone and in combination with cisplatin were determined by alamarBlue and clonogenic assay. Cancer stem cell (CSC) inhibition and the expression of CSC markers were revealed by sphere formation assay and real-time PCR (qPCR). The in vivo anti-cancer effect of GD extract was evaluated in Huh7 xenograft mice model and Ki-67 expression were also measured. The activity of Wnt signalling and the expression level of Wnt target genes and β-catenin were determined by luciferase reporter assay, qPCR, immunoblotting and IHC. Results Moderate cytotoxicity of GD extract in liver cancer cells was observed. GD extract sensitized Huh7 cells to cisplatin treatment. Interestingly, GD extract inhibited cancer sphere formation and reduced the expression of CSC markers. Importantly, GD extract suppressed Huh7 tumor growth, Ki-67 expression and prolonged the anti-liver cancer effect of cisplatin in vivo . Treatment of GD extract resulted in reductions of Wnt reporter activity and the expression of Wnt target genes. Moreover, suppression of β-catenin were observed in both GD extract treated Huh7 spheres and xenograft tumors. Conclusion Accordingly, our findings suggest that G. divaricata may target liver CSC by suppressing the Wnt pathway and the combination of G. divaricata and cisplatin could be a candidate regimen for treating HCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine the short-term and long-term effects of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on incident tuberculosis (TB) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).Methods: From 2000 to 2012, we identified adult PLWHA from Taiwan Centers for Disease Control HIV Surveillance System. All PLWHA were followed up until December 31, 2012, and observed for TB occurrence. Time-dependent Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the short-term and long-term effects of HAART on incident TB.Results: Of 20,072 PLWHA, 628 (3.13%) had incident TB, corresponding to an incident rate of 701/100,000 person-years. After adjusting for potential confounders, PLWHA receiving HAART were more likely to develop TB than those not receiving the drugs (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] 1.56; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.18-2.05). While the short-term and long-term effects of HAART on incident TB were considered, HAART was a risk factor for TB development within the first 90 days (AHR 6.06; 95% CI 4.58-8.01) and between 90 and 180 days of treatment (AHR 1.80; 95% CI 1.11-2.94) but was a protective factor after 180 days of HAART use (AHR 0.51; 95% CI 0.39-0.66).Conclusions: HAART is a risk factor for the development of TB in the short term but a protective factor in the long term. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]