Search

Background: Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentation disease of the skin due to melanocyte destruction. A shared pathogenesis affecting melanocytes in the cochlea has been postulated. However, the association between vitiligo and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is unclear. Objective: To identify the association between vitiligo and SNHL. Methods: This retrospective, nationwide cohort study included patients with vitiligo and age‐, sex‐ and comorbidities‐matched controls (propensity score matching; 1:4 ratio) from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2013. Results: In total, 13 048 patients with vitiligo and 52 192 controls were included. SNHL developed in 0.61% patients with vitiligo and 0.29% controls. After adjusting for sex, age and comorbidities, a significant association between vitiligo and SNHL was found (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.18; 95% CI, 1.66–2.86). The other risk factors for developing SNHL included increased age, male sex, hyperlipidaemia, coronary artery disease and diffuse connective tissue diseases. In subgroup analysis, the association between vitiligo and SNHL remained significant in almost all the subgroups. Conclusion: A 2.2‐fold increased risk of developing SNHL was found in patients with vitiligo. Proper referral to otologists for early screening and closer follow‐up of SNHL should be considered for patients with vitiligo, especially for patients with older age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Microbial dysbiosis has been implicated in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD). The risk of development of AD following early‐life infections remains unclear. Objective: To investigate the impact of early‐life infections on AD development. Methods: This population‐based nested case–control study was conducted using the Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database. A total of 5454 AD patients and 16 362 control subjects without AD were identified, for the period 1997 to 2013. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities and maternal factors were compared. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was calculated to examine the associations between early‐life infections and subsequent AD by conditional stepwise logistic regression analysis. Results: Mean age was 2.6 ± 2.9 years in both groups. Overall infections (41.8% vs. 28.9%) before the diagnosis of AD were more common in AD patients than in control subjects (P < 0.001). Infectious diseases [aOR, 1.40; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29–1.51], skin infections (aOR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.40–1.71) and systemic antibiotic exposure (aOR 1.67, 95% CI 1.55–1.79) before AD diagnosis were independently associated with AD development on multivariate analyses. These results were consistent across observation periods (0–1, 1–2 and >2 years after birth) and sensitivity analyses after redefining the index date as 3 or 6 months before the date of AD diagnosis. Other independent risk factors included asthma, allergic rhinitis, intussusception and neonatal hyperbilirubinemia. No association with subsequent AD was found for maternal age at delivery, Caesarean delivery or prenatal antibiotic exposure. Conclusion: Infections in early life are associated with AD development in infancy and early childhood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance in acne was first observed in the 1970s and has been a major concern in dermatology since the 1980s. The resistance rates and types of antimicrobials have subsequently shown great variations in regions and countries. Illustrative of this is the resistance to topical erythromycin and clindamycin which continues to be a problem worldwide, while resistance to systemic treatment with tetracyclines has remained low during the past decade. The resistance for the newer macrolides like azithromycin and clarithromycin has been increasing. The results of antibiotic resistance may include treatment failure of acne, disturbance of skin microbiota, induction of opportunistic pathogens locally and systemically, and dissemination of resistant strains to both healthcare personnel and the general population. The ensuing complications, such as aggravated opportunistic infections caused by Propionibacterium acnes and the emergence of multiresistant superbugs, have not yet been confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Most evidence regarding the relationship between cigarette smoking and risk of rosacea is obtained from cross‐sectional or case–control studies. Objective: To examine the association between smoking and risk of developing rosacea. Methods: Participants were collected from four rounds (2001, 2005, 2009 and 2013) of the Taiwan National Health Interview Survey. Incident cases of rosacea were identified from the National Health Insurance database. Cox proportional hazard model was used for the analyses. Results: Of the 59 973 participants, 379 developed rosacea during a mean follow‐up of 10.8 years. After adjustment for potential confounders, current smokers had a lower risk of rosacea than never smokers [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.60; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.39–0.92]. An increase in smoking intensity was associated with a decreased risk of rosacea among current smokers (Ptrend = 0.0101). Compared with never smokers, current smokers of >15 cigarettes/day had an aHR of 0.51 (95% CI: 0.26–0.99) for rosacea. For incident rosacea, the aHRs (95% CIs) of current smokers of ≤10 years of smoking and ≤10 pack‐years of smoking were 0.44 (0.22–0.88) and 0.51 (0.29–0.89), respectively. Former smoking was not associated with rosacea risk. Conclusion: Current smoking was significantly associated with a decreased risk of rosacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A continuous cell line consisting mostly of epithelioid cells was established from the caudal fin of marbled eels (Anguilla marmorata) and designated as marbled eel caudal fin (MECF)‐1. The cells multiplied well in Leibovitz's L‐15 medium containing 2% to 15% foetal bovine serum at temperatures of 20°C to 35°C and were subcultured for >90 passages during a 5‐year period from 2012 to 2017. Transcripts of ictacalcin, keratin 13, cd146, nestin, ncam1 and myod1 were demonstrated in the cells using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The results indicated that MECF‐1 was composed of epidermal and mesenchyme stem and progenitor cells including myoblasts. MECF‐1 was susceptible to Japanese eel herpesvirus HVA980811, marbled eel polyoma‐like virus (MEPyV), aquabirnavirus MEIPNV1310 and aquareovirus CSV. By contrast, MECF‐1 was noted refractory to megalocytiviruses RSIV‐Ku and GSIV‐K1 infection. Moreover, the cells were resistant to betanodavirus infection. In conclusion, MECF‐1 derived from marbled eel is suitable for studies on anguillid viruses and interaction with host cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Background: Renal dysfunction remains an issue in tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients. Aim: To evaluate renal safety of TDF according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines. Methods: We retrospectively recruited CHB patients who received either TDF or entecavir (ETV) monotherapy from January 2008 to August 2015. After excluding confounding conditions, 253 patients who received TDF were randomly matched 1:2 with 506 patients who received ETV through the propensity scores, which consisted of age, gender, cirrhosis, chronic kidney disease (CKD) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Renal function deterioration was defined as a drop in GFR category accompanied with a ≥25% eGFR decline. Cumulative incidences of and hazard ratios (HRs) for renal dysfunction were analysed. Results: The mean eGFR decline was significantly greater in the TDF group over 48 months (TDF vs ETV: 15.73 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 13.76‐17.70 vs 5.96 mL/min/1.73 m2, 95% CI: 4.72‐7.19; P < 0.001). The cumulative incidence of renal function deterioration was significantly higher in the TDF group (TDF vs ETV: 11.1%, 95% CI: 7.4‐14.8 vs 1.7%, 95% CI: 1.0‐2.4; P < 0.001). After adjusting for age, pre‐existing CKD and diabetes, TDF was independently associated with an increased risk of renal function deterioration (HR 5.36, 95% CI: 2.16‐13.35; P < 0.001). Pre‐existing CKD (HR 6.71, 95% CI: 2.25‐17.65), proteinuria (HR 3.39, 95% CI: 1.23‐9.39), and haematuria (HR 4.25, 95% CI: 1.32‐13.68) were also independent factors of renal dysfunction. Conclusion: By following the KDIGO guidelines, we confirmed that TDF was associated with a higher risk of renal dysfunction as compared to ETV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper develops a new optimal linear quadratic observer-based tracker with input constraint for the linear unknown system with a direct transmission term from input to measured output. The off-line observer/Kalman filter identification method is used to determine the linear sampled-data model with a direct feed-through term. On the basis of this model, a high-gain optimal linear quadratic analog observer-based tracker is proposed, so that it can effectively induce a high quality performance on the state estimation and the trajectory tracking design. Besides, the prediction-based digital redesign method is utilized to obtain a relatively low-gain and implementable observer and digital tracker from the theoretically well-designed high-gain analog observer and tracker for the linear system with a direct transmission term from input to output. To reduce the magnitude of control input, which is caused by the high-gain property to fit the requirement of the input constraint, the modified linear quadratic analog tracker is proposed. Thus, the control input can be compressed effectively without losing the original high performance of tracking much. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bulliform cells are large, thin-walled and highly vacuolated cells, and play an important role in controlling leaf rolling in response to drought and high temperature. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating bulliform cell development have not been well documented. Here, we report isolation and characterisation of a rice leaf-rolling mutant, named shallot-like 2 ( sll2). The sll2 plants exhibit adaxially rolled leaves, starting from the sixth leaf stage, accompanied by increased photosynthesis and reduced plant height and tiller number. Histological analyses showed shrinkage of bulliform cells, resulting in inward-curved leaves. The mutant is recessive and revertible at a rate of 9%. The leaf rolling is caused by a T- DNA insertion. Cloning of the insertion using TAIL- PCR revealed that the T- DNA was inserted in the promoter region of LOC_Os07 g38664. Unexpectedly, the enhanced expression of LOC_Os07 g38664 by the 35S enhancer in the T- DNA is not responsible for the leaf rolling phenotype. Further, the enhancer also exerted a long-distance effect, including up-regulation of several bulliform cell-related genes. sll2 suppressed the outward leaf rolling of oul1 in the sll2oul1 double mutant. We conclude that leaf rolling in sll2 could be a result of the combined effect of multi-genes, implying a complex network in regulation of bulliform cell development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dental caries arises from an imbalance of metabolic activities in dental biofilms developed primarily by Streptococcus mutans. This study was conducted to isolate potential oral probiotics with antagonistic activities against S. mutans biofilm formation from Lactobacillus salivarius, frequently found in human saliva. We analysed 64 L. salivarius strains and found that two, K35 and K43, significantly inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation with inhibitory activities more pronounced than those of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG ( LGG), a prototypical probiotic that shows anti-caries activity. Scanning electron microscopy showed that co-culture of S. mutans with K35 or K43 resulted in significantly reduced amounts of attached bacteria and network-like structures, typically comprising exopolysaccharides. Spot assay for S. mutans indicated that K35 and K43 strains possessed a stronger bactericidal activity against S. mutans than LGG. Moreover, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction showed that the expression of genes encoding glucosyltransferases, gtfB, gtfC, and gtfD was reduced when S. mutans were co-cultured with K35 or K43. However, LGG activated the expression of gtfB and gtfC, but did not influence the expression of gtfD in the co-culture. A transwell-based biofilm assay indicated that these lactobacilli inhibited S. mutans biofilm formation in a contact-independent manner. In conclusion, we identified two L. salivarius strains with inhibitory activities on the growth and expression of S. mutans virulence genes to reduce its biofilm formation. This is not a general characteristic of the species, so presents a potential strategy for in vivo alteration of plaque biofilm and caries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background IL-21 is a key cytokine for regulating B cell immunity, which is involved in several inflammatory conditions. This study sought to define a role for IL-21 in activated B lymphocytes and enhanced tissue eosinophilia in NP tissues during the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Methods NP and uncinate process tissues were collected from 64 CRSwNP patients, 25 CRSsNP patients, and 29 control subjects. IL-21 expression was examined using IHC staining, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and ELISA, and its clinical implication was evaluated. Moreover, the effects of IL-21 on B cell differentiation and Ig production in cultured NP cells were examined in vitro. Results The mRNA and protein levels of IL-21 were significantly increased in polyp tissues compared with control tissues ( P < 0.05). Polyp IL-21 level was significantly associated with polyp size, tissue eosinophilia and asthma comorbidity, and recurrence after surgery ( P < 0.05). Both Th1 and Th17 cells were the main cellular sources of IL-21 in polyp tissues. The percentage of IL-21+CD4+ cells was significantly higher in polyp tissues compared with control tissues and matched PBMCs ( P < 0.01). Accordingly, the percentage of CD19+CD20+/− CD38high cells was significantly higher in polyp tissues compared with control tissues ( P < 0.01). Moreover, recombinant IL-21 significantly increased the percentage of CD19+CD20+/− CD38high cells (plasmablasts) and IgG and IgA production in cultured NP cells in vitro ( P < 0.05). Conclusion and Clinical Relevance Increased IL-21 level in polyp tissues was associated with disease severity, local B cell activation, and immunoglobulin production, suggesting that IL-21 might play an important role in promoting persistent mucosal inflammation in CRSwNP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton is essential for cell motility and chemotaxis. Actin-binding proteins ( ABPs) and membrane lipids, especially phosphoinositides PI(4,5) P2 and PI(3,4,5) P3 are involved in the regulation of this reorganization. At least 15 ABPs have been reported to interact with, or regulated by phosphoinositides ( PIPs) whose synthesis is regulated by extracellular signals. Recent studies have uncovered several parallel intracellular signalling pathways that crosstalk in chemotaxing cells. Here, we review the roles of ABPs and phosphoinositides in chemotaxis and cell migration. Linked Articles This article is part of a themed section on Cytoskeleton, Extracellular Matrix, Cell Migration, Wound Healing and Related Topics. To view the other articles in this section visit [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Streptococcus agalactiae (Group B streptococcus, GBS) has emerged as an important pathogen that affects humans and animals, including aquatic species. In August 2011, a severe infectious disease affecting rabbits, which caused 42% mortality, occurred in Mianyang, Sichuan Province, China. The main clinical signs included acute respiratory distress syndrome, fever, paddling and convulsions. A Gram-positive, chain-forming coccus was isolated from the primary organs and tissues of diseased rabbits and then identified as S. agalactiae by morphology, biochemical and physiological characteristics, 16 S r DNA and gyr B gene sequences analysis. All isolates of S. agalactiae showed a similar antibiotic susceptibility, which were sensitive to florfenicol, ampicillin,gentamicin and norfloxacin, as well as being resistant to penicillin, amoxicillin and tetracycline. To our knowledge, this is the first report on S. agalactiae natural infection in domestic rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypercalcaemia, a common complication of advanced cancer, causes multiple clinical symptoms, deteriorates patients' quality of life, and is associated with poor prognoses. This study aimed to identify the factors that may be associated with hypercalcaemia in advanced cancer by retrospectively reviewing the medical records of patients ( n = 404) admitted to the palliative ward of the Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, from 2006 to 2008. Patients' demographics, clinical data and symptoms were recorded. Seventy-nine of 404 patients had hypercalcaemia (19.6%), predominant in cases of head-and-neck cancer and haematological malignancies ( P < 0.05), but not in those of bone metastases. Hypercalcaemia was associated with consciousness disturbances and leucocytosis ( P < 0.05). We recommend that ionised (corrected) calcium levels be monitored clinically in patients with advanced cancer especially when consciousness disturbances are noted, or when head-and-neck or haematological malignancies are present. Testing of free calcium levels is also recommended in patients with leucocytosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim Nicotine stimulation of α3 β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors ( α3 β2-n AChRs) located on sympathetic nerves innervating basilar arteries causes calcium-dependent noradrenaline release, leading to activation of parasympathetic nitrergic nerves and dilation of basilar arteries. This study aimed to investigate the major subtype of calcium channels located on cerebral peri-vascular sympathetic nerves, which is involved in nicotine-induced α3 β2-n AChR-mediated nitrergic vasodilation in basilar arteries. Methods Nicotine- and transmural nerve stimulation ( TNS)-induced dilation of isolated porcine basilar arteries was examined using in vitro tissue bath. Nicotine-induced calcium influx, nicotine-induced noradrenaline release and nicotine-induced inward currents were evaluated in rat superior cervical ganglion ( SCG) neurones, peri-vascular sympathetic nerves of porcine basilar arteries and α3 β2-n ACh Rs-expressing oocytes respectively. m RNA and protein expression of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels were detected by RT- PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Results Nicotine-induced vasodilation was not affected by ω -agatoxin TK (selective P/Q-type calcium channel blocker) or ω-conotoxin GVIA (N-type calcium channel blocker). The vasodilation, however, was inhibited by nicardipine (L-type calcium channel blocker) in concentrations which did not affect TNS-induced vasodilation, suggesting the specific blockade. Nicardipine concentration-dependently inhibited nicotine-induced calcium influx in rat SCG neurones and reduced nicotine-induced noradrenaline release from peri-vascular sympathetic nerves of porcine basilar arteries. Nicardipine (10 μ m), which significantly blocked nicotine-induced vasorelaxation by 70%, did not appreciably affect nicotine-induced inward currents in α3 β2-n AChRs-expressing oocytes. Furthermore, the m RNAs and proteins of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 channels were expressed in porcine SCG and peri-vascular nerve terminals. Conclusion The sympathetic neuronal calcium influx through L-type calcium channels is modulated by α3 β2-n AChRs. This calcium influx causes noradrenaline release, initiating sympathetic-parasympathetic (axo-axonal) interaction-induced nitrergic dilation of porcine basilar arteries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 compact layers are used in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to prevent charge recombination between the electrolyte and the transparent conductive substrate (indium tin oxide, ITO; fluorine-doped tin oxide, FTO). Thin TiO2 compact layers are deposited onto ITO/glass by means of radio frequency (rf) magnetron sputtering, using deposition parameters that ensure greater photocatalytic activity and increased DSSC conversion efficiency. The photoinduced decomposition of methylene blue (MB) and the photoinduced hydrophilicity of the TiO2 thin films are also investigated. The photocatalytic performance characteristics for the deposition of TiO2 films are improved by using the Grey-Taguchi method. The average transmittance in the visible region exceeds 85% for all samples. The XRD patterns of the TiO2 films, for sol-gel with spin coating of porous TiO2/TiO2 compact/ITO/glass, show a good crystalline structure. In contrast, without the TiO2 compact layer (only porous TiO2), the peak intensity of the anatase (101) plane in the XRD patterns for the TiO2 film has a lower value, which demonstrates inferior crystalline quality. With a TiO2 compact layer to prevent charge recombination, a higher short-circuit current density is obtained. The DSSC with the FTO/glass and Pt counter electrode demonstrates the energy conversion efficiency increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In Taiwan, nearly all medical dispute cases were reviewed by an official Medical Review Committee ( MRC). Aims The aim of this study was to investigate the time trends of assessment reports by the MRC to estimate the changing trends of medical malpractice litigation. Methods All assessment reports of the MRC from a nationwide database were reviewed. The assessment reports were analysed according to the year of completion. We further analysed the time trends by adjusting numbers for the size of the general population and numbers of physicians. Stratified analyses were also conducted by region and commission authority. Results Between 1987 and 2006, the MRC completed a total of 5324 assessment reports, with 4949 reports involving a medical dispute and the remaining 375 reports not involving a medical dispute. The numbers of assessment reports increased from 139 in 1987 to 221 in 1996 and 361 in 2006. The assessment increased from 0.70 per 100 000 people in 1987 to 1.03 and 1.58 per 100 000 people in 1996 and 2006 respectively. There was a stable trend of 8.5-10.0 assessments per 1000 physicians annually during the study period. Rising trends were consistent for all regions of Taiwan and for all criminal cases, but increases were more significant for civil cases. Conclusions The numbers of medical dispute cases have increased significantly over the past 20 years. More studies to investigate the reasons of the rising trends and to find resolving methods to decrease the numbers of medical dispute will be helpful in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An immersed boundary method (IBM) has been developed and incorporated into the coupled discrete element method and computational fluid dynamics (DEM-CFD) approach to model particulate systems consisting of a compressible gas and solid particles with complex and/or moving boundaries. The IBM is used to deal with the interaction between gas and complex and moving boundaries by using simple rectangular grids to discretize the fluid field. The developed method has been applied to simulate some typical powder handling processes (e.g., gas fluidization with an immersed tube, segregation in a vertically vibrated bed, and pneumatic conveying). Good agreement is achieved between the present simulation results and the experimental ones reported in the literature. It has been demonstrated that the capacity of DEM-CFD is enhanced with the incorporation of IBM, which can be used to simulate a wide range of problems that could not be handled with the conventional DEM-CFD method. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 1075-1087, 2013 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hung S-L, Chiang H-H, Wu C-Y, Hsu M-J, Chen Y-T. Effects of herpes simplex virus type 1 infection on immune functions of human neutrophils. J Periodont Res 2012; 47: 635-644. © 2012 John Wiley & Sons A/S Background and Objective: Herpesviruses may play roles in the development of periodontal diseases. This study analyzed the effects of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infection on neutrophil function. The effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the periodontal pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis, during HSV-1 infection were also determined. Material and Methods: Purified HSV-1 was pretreated with buffer containing no serum, with HSV-1 immunoglobulin G (IgG)-positive serum (HSV-1 antiserum) or with control serum. Neutrophils were mock-infected or infected with the pretreated HSV-1. Viral binding and phagosome formation were detected using immunostaining. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined using 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin diacetate and fluorometry. Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) were detected using enzyme immunoassays. Release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was examined using gelatin zymography. Phosphorylation of Akt/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) was determined using western blotting. Results: HSV-1 bound directly to neutrophils and enhanced the release of MMP-9. HSV-1 immune complexes, formed in the HSV-1 antiserum, bound neutrophils and induced the formation of early phagosome more effectively than did HSV-1 alone. The relative levels of ROS and phosphorylation of Akt/GSK-3 were increased significantly in neutrophils after infection with HSV-1 immune complexes. Infection with HSV-1 and HSV-1 immune complexes also stimulated the production of inflammatory mediators, LTB4 and IL-8. Moreover, LPS enhanced the HSV-1-stimulatory production of IL-8. Conclusion: This study demonstrated differences in neutrophils infected with HSV-1 alone or with HSV-1 immune complexes, suggesting that opsonization of HSV-1 might enhance its effects on neutrophils. The in vitro findings suggest that HSV-1 infection may induce the inflammatory response and affect periodontal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The sensitivity of current upper limit of normal ( ULN) of serum alanine aminotransferase ( ALT) levels for detecting chronic liver disease has been challenged recently. Aim To identify modulating factors for serum ALT levels and to refine its ULN threshold. Methods We enrolled 34 346 consecutive subjects who completed the health check-up at Taipei Veterans General Hospital from 2002 to 2009. ULN was set for healthy ALT level to the 95th percentile of the reference healthy population. Results A group of 21 282 subjects were used as a training set to define an ULN with the highest sensitivity; afterwards, this ULN was validated in another set of 13 064 subjects. A reference healthy population was selected from the training set after excluding subjects with any abnormalities in independent risk factors associated with elevated serum ALT level (>40 IU/L) by multivariate analysis like body mass index, waist circumference, glucose, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triglyceride, hepatitis B virus surface antigen, anti-hepatitis C virus antibody and fatty liver. The new ULN of serum ALT level defined as the 95% percentile in the healthy population were 21 IU/L and 17 IU/L for men and women respectively. These cut-off values had the highest Youden's index and areas under the corresponding receiver operating curves among four widely applied thresholds in both the training and validation sets. Conclusions The suggested threshold of upper limit of normal provides better discrimination between healthy and unhealthy status. Viral hepatitis, metabolic syndrome and fatty liver are the major risk factors of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prone position can reduce cardiac output by up to 25% due to reduced preload. We hypothesised that preload optimisation targeted to stroke volume variation before turning prone might alleviate this. A supine threshold stroke volume variation of 14% in a preliminary study identified patients whose cardiac outputs would decline when turned prone. In 45 patients, cardiac output declined only in the group whose supine stroke volume variation was high (mean (SD) 5.1 (2.0) to 3.9 (1.9) l.min−1; p < 0.001), but not in patients in whom it was low, or in those in whom stroke volume variation was high, but who received volume preload (p = 0.525 and 0.941, respectively). We conclude that targeted preload optimisation using a supine stroke volume variation value < 14% is effective in preventing falls in cardiac output induced by the prone position. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A microstrip-based test fixture that can measure the paraelectric property of bulk ferroelectrics under high DC bias up to 2 kV at microwave frequencies is presented.In the measurement, a rectangular-cuboid ferroelectrics with a pair of electrodes at opposite sides which represents a lumped capacitor is placed between a gap of a microstrip line. Blocking capacitors and a-quarter-wavelength stub lines are used to make sure that the vector network analyzer is double safe in the presence of high voltage. Thru-reflect-line calibration method is used to de-embed the ferroelectric capacitor from blocking circuits and DC bias networks. The simulation and measurement results indicate that the method is suitable and safe for measuring the paraelectric property of bulk ferroelectrics at microwave frequencies under high DC bias. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 54:1493-1496, 2012; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.26844 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This report shows how the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of nuclear ribosomal DNA (rDNA) can be used to determine the species identity of insect cell lines and to distinguish between cell lines derived from closely related insect species. A PCR-RFLP method with the endonucleases HincII and PstI produces restriction fragment profiles that could distinguish between insect cell lines at the species level. Another PCR-based method used three species-specific primer sets, Ly-ITS1/Ly-ITS2, ITS1-1/Ld-ITS1 and Sf9- F2/ ITS4, to identify the cell lines from Lymantria xylina, L. dispar and Spodoptera frugiperda, respectively. This method also detected cell-line cross-contaminations (CLCC) with contamination levels as low as 1% (10 cells in a population of 1000 cells) even when the contaminating cells were from a closely related species. Compared with conventional methods used for cell-line identification and CLCC detection, the methods presented here are fast and sensitive and could easily be applied to other cell culture laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Th1 cell-mediated adaptive immune response is very important but may not be sufficient to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis) infection. The roles of the various T cell subsets and cytokines in the inflammatory processes are not clearly elucidated. We investigated whether Th1, Th22 and Th17 cells mediated cellular immunity at the local site of M. tuberculosis infection in patients with tuberculous pleurisy (TBP). The results showed that the cytokines IFN-γ and IL-22 but not IL-17 were elevated in tubercular pleural fluid. Following stimulation with immune-dominant peptides of early secreted antigenic target-6 (ESAT-6), culture filtrate protein-10 (CFP-10) or Bacille Calmette-Guerin, pleural fluid mononuclear cells expressed high levels of cytokines IFN-γ, IL-22 and IL-17 as revealed by mRNA and protein measurements. In addition, we showed that cytokines IFN-γ, IL-22 and IL-17 were produced in M. tuberculosis-specific immune response by distinct subsets of CD4 T cells with the phenotype of CD45RACD62LCCR7CD27. Our results demonstrated for the first time that ESAT-6- and CFP-10-specific Th1, Th22 and Th17 cells existed in the patients with TBP and might play an essential role against M. tuberculosis infection. The findings of this study raised the possibility of unravelling the critical targets for therapeutic intervention in chronic inflammatory diseases such as TBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the application of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) to the high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter for disinfection of airborne microorganisms. Experiments were conducted at two TiO2 loadings (1870 ± 169 and 3140 ± 67 mg/m2) on the HEPA filter irradiated with UV-A at the intensity of 0.85 ± 0.18 or 4.85 ± 0.09 mW/cm2 under two relative humidity conditions (45 ± 5% and 75 ± 5%). Inactivation and penetration of four microorganisms were tested, including Aspergillus niger, Penicillium citrinum, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Bacillus subtilis. It was found that microorganisms retained on a photocatalytic filter were inactivated around 60–80% and even 100% for S. epidermidis when the PCO reactions occurred. Lower penetration was also found from the photocatalytic filter for all airborne microorganisms. High humidity decreased photocatalysis efficacy. Increasing TiO2 loading or irradiance intensity did not substantially affect its disinfection capability. Practical Implications The high efficiency particulate air filter is used widely to remove particulates and microorganisms from the air stream. However, the filter may become a source of microbes if those retained microorganisms proliferate and re-entrain back into the filtered air. This study demonstrates that such a problem can be handled effectively by using photocatalytic reactions to inactivate those confined microorganisms. A 60–100% microbe reduction can be achieved for a wide variety of microorganisms to provide better indoor air quality for hospitals, offices, and domestic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Promoter hypermethylation plays an important role in the inactivation of cancer-related genes. This abnormality occurs early in leukemogenesis and seems to be associated with poor prognosis in myelodsplastic syndrome (MDS). The identification of more inactivated tumor suppressor genes contributing to the development of MDS may lead to further elucidation of the biology of this disease and help to identify novel targets for therapy. In this study, the methylation status of death-associated protein kinase 1 ( DAPK1) gene promoter was analyzed by using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in bone marrow (BM) samples from 59 patients with different stages of MDS. The abnormal methylation of the DAPK1 gene was found in 37 of 59 (62.7%) MDS cases. The correlation was significant between the sex and the methylation status of DAPK1 promoter in MDS patients ( R = 0.332, P = 0.010). Furthermore, methylation status of DAPK1 promoter was associated with the percentage of BM blasts ( R = 0.346, P = 0.010) and International Prognosis Scoring System (IPSS) groups ( R = 0.278, P = 0.034). The estimated 50% survival time of the methylated DAPK1 group and unmethylated group was 20 and 33 months, respectively. There was no significant difference between these two groups (χ2 = 0.652, P = 0.419). Multivariate analysis identified the age older than 50 years, the Int-2/high-risk categories of IPSS and the advanced stage MDS (RAEB-1/RAEB-2) in WHO classification as negative prognostic factors ( P < 0.05). Aberrant methylation of DAPK1 gene promoter had no influence on the prognosis of MDS despite of its increasing occurrence during disease progression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented regarding the use of dermoscopic examination of accidental silver nitrate (AgNO3) staining among melanoma patients.

Background: Medical malpractice litigation has become an important issue worldwide. Although many epidemiological studies have been carried out, most studies were conducted cross-sectionally in developed countries and focused on malpractice litigation. We conducted nationwide surveys to investigate physicians' experiences associated with malpractice in 1991 and 2005, respectively. Methods: By stratified systemic sampling, questionnaires were mailed to physicians in 1991 and 2005. Physicians were asked about the experience of medical malpractice and outcomes of malpractice. The outcomes of the malpractice were classified as resolution, settlement and lawsuit. We also collected physicians' demographic and professional characteristics. Results: The prevalence of malpractice experience decreased from 44.1% in 1991 to 36.0% in 2005 ( P = 0.004). The estimated annual malpractice claims decreased from 0.14 to 0.10 per physician in 1991 and 2005, respectively ( P < 0.001). Physicians 45–64 years of age, obstetrician/gynaecologists and surgeons had significantly higher risk of malpractice. Compared with 1991, malpractice claims in 2005 were more likely to be brought into courts (23.1% in 2005 vs 15.7% in 1991, odds ratio (OR) = 1.48, P = 0.020). In litigation cases, malpractice events in 2005 had more than triple the risk of 1991 to be sued in both civil and criminal courts (12.4% in 2005 vs 4.1% in 1991, OR = 3.31, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Compared with 1991, medical malpractice experiences were decreasing in prevalence, but increasing in severity in 2005. Additional studies, especially among different legal systems, are necessary to confirm these observations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an Eulerian-Lagrangian model for analyzing the effect of air on the die filling process, which incorporates the discrete element method (DEM) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The usage of DEM to analyze particle behavior and CFD to analyze the air along with a two-way air-particle coupling term is noted. The simulation of monodisperse and polydisperse powder systems is mentioned. The greater effect of air on polydisperse systems is observed, noting the decrease in dimensionless mass flow rate for polydisperse systems as compared to monodisperse systems.

Triptolide, a diterpenoid isolated from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has been demonstrated to be effective in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases. T helper type 17 (Th17) cells represent a novel subset of CD4+ T cells involved in the immunopathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. Currently, the effects of triptolide on the differentiation of Th17 cells remain unclear. Here, we found that triptolide significantly inhibited the generation of Th17 cells from murine splenocytes and purified CD4+ T cells in a dose-dependent manner. The suppressive effects of triptolide were persistent even after it had been removed from cell cultures. Importantly, triptolide inhibited the transcription of interleukin-17 (IL-17) mRNA and IL-6-induced phosphorylation of STAT3, a key signalling molecule involved in the development of Th17 cells. Moreover, these suppressive effects of triptolide on Th17 differentiation were not due to cytotoxicity of triptolide because the numbers of viable cells had no significant difference between triptolide-treated and non-triptolide-treated cells. In vivo studies demonstrated that the treatment of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice with triptolide reduced arthritis scores and swollen degree of joints. At the same time, the levels of collagen type II (CII)-specific IL-17 production and the percentages of CII-specific IL-17+CD4+ T cells in the cells from draining lymph nodes and spleens were significantly reduced in CIA mice treated with triptolide. These results suggested that triptolide displayed an immunosuppressive effect on CIA by down-regulating CII-specific Th17 cells. Taken together, our results may provide a new light on the potential mechanism of the immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects of triptolid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Lanyu pig is an indigenous breed from Lanyu Islet, located south-east of Taiwan, with phenotypic characteristics distinctive from other pig breeds in Asia and Europe. Based on geographic considerations, the Lanyu pig may have originated from mainland China, Austronesia or the Ryukyu Islands. In the present study, polymorphism of the mitochondrial DNA control region sequence was used to clarify phylogenetic relationships among two herds of Lanyu pigs imported before 1980 from Lanyu Islet into Taiwan and reared in isolation on two different farms. Two distinct mitochondrial control region haplotypes were found. The type I Lanyu sequence appeared independently as a unique clade different from Asian and European pig sequences, while the type II Lanyu sequence was clustered within the major Asian clade. The pairwise distances between the major Asian clade vs. the type I Lanyu and European clades were 0.01726 ± 0.00275 and 0.01975 ± 0.00212 changes per site respectively. Estimates of divergence time suggest that the type I Lanyu sequence split from the major Asian pig clade in prehistoric times. The type II Lanyu mtDNA shares a close genetic lineage with Japanese Satsuma and New Zealand Kune Kune mtDNA with pairwise distances of 0.00095 ± 0.00000 and 0.00192 ± 0.00000 respectively, indicating gene flow between Lanyu Islet, Japan and Oceania in recent times. Together these results indicate that the type I Lanyu pig has a genetic lineage separate from Asian-type pigs, while the type II Lanyu sequence may represent a more recent introgression of modern Asian pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the development of a photocatalytic packed-bed reactor for the oxidation of methanol, which is the key component of high volume volatile organic gases emitted from pulp and paper mills. Bench-scale studies were performed using an annular reactor packed with silica-titania composite pellets, to optimize methanol removal and reduce the formation of by-products such as formaldehyde.

Type 2 diabetic mellitus (type 2 DM) comprises more than 95% of all Taiwanese patients with DM. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) expression is linked with insulin resistance, and is under strong genetic control. The correlation between TNF promoter genotypes and type 2 DM is still controversial, because discrepancies among different studies exist. Ethnic differences play certain roles in these conflicting results, because the distribution of TNF promoter polymorphisms is different among study subjects with different racial origins. Therefore, we examined the relationship between the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Taiwanese and two polymorphisms of the TNF-α promoter region (positions -238 and -308) as well as the correlation between these polymorphisms and the patients' biochemical manifestations. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood cells of 261 Taiwanese patients with type 2 DM and 189 non-diabetic control study subjects, and their TNF promoter G-238A and G-308A polymorphisms were analyzed by PCR-RFLP analysis. No significant association between TNF-α G-238A and G-308A polymorphisms with type 2 diabetic incidence was observed. However, associations between TNF-α G-238A and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and between G-308A promoter polymorphism and high-fasting plasma glucose levels, using multiple linear regression analysis with adjustment for the subjects' age, sex, body mass index and diabetic status, were found. Our results suggested that though TNF-α G-238A and G-308A polymorphisms were not involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 DM, type 2 diabetic patients carrying TNFA-A or TNF-308*2 genotype might be more susceptible to diabetic complications such as atherosclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the epidemiology, clinical pathology, histopathology, and microbiology and molecular biology of the disease caused by the Gram-positive coccal pathogen Lactococcus garvieae in grey mullet. Description of the gross lesions and histopathological changes found in experimentally infected grey mullet.

Objectives Microcalcifications are generally not demonstrated well on ultrasonography. In this study, we attempted to demonstrate the usefulness of high-resolution ultrasonography in the detection of microcalcifications associated with non-palpable breast cancers. Design Fourteen patients with non-palpable breast lesions in whom microcalcifications were detected or suspected by ultrasonography and one patient in whom microcalcifications were detected on mammography only were included in the study. Mammography and analysis of biopsy specimens were performed in each patient and the findings were correlated with the ultrasonographic findings. Ultrasonography and mammography were performed independently by different physicians at different times. Results In three patients ≤30 years of age, who were not at high risk of breast cancer and who had no evidence of cancer on palpation, high-resolution ultrasonography clearly showed microcalcifications but no mass. Two of these patients had ductal carcinoma in situ and one had small invasive carcinoma with extensive comedocarcinoma. Among the other 12 patients with non-palpable breast lesions, ultrasonography detected microcalcifications accurately in six and suggested possible microcalcifications in a further four. Microcalcifications in all of these ten patients were confirmed by mammography thereafter. Four of these ten patients had ductal carcinoma in situ, with or without invasive carcinoma. Of the remaining two patients, one demonstrated false-positive findings and one false-negative findings on ultrasound. On high-resolution ultrasonography, microcalcifications produced the appearance of twinkling stars (bright dots in different planes) in a dark sky (contrasted against ill-defined hypoechoic patches), corresponding on histopathology to groups of expanded ducts with increased cell density with or without necrosis. Conclusion High-resolution ultrasonography may be used for detection of microcalcifications... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]