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1.
Benef Microbes ; 15(3): 259-273, 2024 May 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38821492

ABSTRACT

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a disorder of gut-brain interaction, is associated with abdominal pain and stool frequency/character alterations that are linked to changes in microbiome composition. We tested whether taxa differentially abundant between females with IBS vs healthy control females (HC) are associated with daily gastrointestinal and psychological symptom severity. Participants (age 18-50 year) completed a 3-day food record and collected a stool sample during the follicular phase. They also completed a 28-day diary rating symptom intensity; analysis focused on the three days after the stool sample collection. 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used for bacterial identification. Taxon abundance was compared between IBS and HC using zero-inflated quantile analysis (ZINQ). We found that females with IBS (n = 67) had greater Bacteroides abundance (q = 0.003) and lower odds of Bifidobacterium presence (q = 0.036) compared to HC (n = 46) after adjusting for age, race, body mass index, fibre intake, and hormonal contraception use. Intestimonas, Oscillibacter, and Phascolarctobacterium were more often present and Christensenellaceae R-7 group, Collinsella, Coprococcus 2, Moryella, Prevotella 9, Ruminococcaceae UCG-002, Ruminococcaceae UCG-005, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 were less commonly present in IBS compared to HC. Despite multiple taxon differences in IBS vs HC, we found no significant associations between taxon presence or abundance and average daily symptom severity within the IBS group. This may indicate the need to account for interactions between microbiome, dietary intake, metabolites, and host factors.


Subject(s)
Bacteria , Feces , Gastrointestinal Microbiome , Irritable Bowel Syndrome , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S , Humans , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/microbiology , Female , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Young Adult , RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics , Adolescent , Middle Aged , Feces/microbiology , Bacteria/classification , Bacteria/genetics , Bacteria/isolation & purification
2.
PLoS One ; 17(12): e0266435, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36516131

ABSTRACT

We apply a heterogeneous graph convolution network (GCN) combined with a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) denoted by GCNMLP to explore the potential side effects of drugs. Here the SIDER, OFFSIDERS, and FAERS are used as the datasets. We integrate the drug information with similar characteristics from the datasets of known drugs and side effect networks. The heterogeneous graph networks explore the potential side effects of drugs by inferring the relationship between similar drugs and related side effects. This novel in silico method will shorten the time spent in uncovering the unseen side effects within routine drug prescriptions while highlighting the relevance of exploring drug mechanisms from well-documented drugs. In our experiments, we inquire about the drugs Vancomycin, Amlodipine, Cisplatin, and Glimepiride from a trained model, where the parameters are acquired from the dataset SIDER after training. Our results show that the performance of the GCNMLP on these three datasets is superior to the non-negative matrix factorization method (NMF) and some well-known machine learning methods with respect to various evaluation scales. Moreover, new side effects of drugs can be obtained using the GCNMLP.


Subject(s)
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions , Neural Networks, Computer , Humans , Algorithms , Machine Learning
3.
Anim Biosci ; 35(12): 1892-1903, 2022 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35507864

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: A series of experiment were conducted to evaluate the effects of replacing a part of soybean meal (SBM) at 6% of broiler diets with fermented soybean meal (FSBM) obtained by single or two-stage fermentation by measuring growth performance, antioxidant activity in the jejunum and distal intestinal microflora. METHODS: Soybean meal samples were prepared by single-stage fermentation using Bacillus velezensis (Bv) (FSBMB), or Lactobacillus spp. (as commercial control) (FSBML). Additional SBM sample was prepared by two-stage fermentation using Bv and subsequently using Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 367 (Lb) (FSBMB+L). Enzyme activity, chemical composition, trichloroethanoic acid-nitrogen solubility index (TCA-NSI) and antioxidant activity were measured. Then, in an in vivo study, 320 Ross308 broilers were divided into four groups with ad libitum supply of feed and water. Four groups were fed either a corn-soybean meal diet (SBM), or one of fermented SBM diets (FSBMB+L, FSBMB, and FSBML). Growth, serum characteristics, microflora, and the mRNA expression of selected genes were measured. RESULTS: Compared to SBM, FSBMB+L contained lower galacto-oligosaccharide, allergic protein, and trypsin inhibitor, and higher TCA-NSI by about three times (p<0.05). Reducing power and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging ability correlated positively with the TCA-NSI content in FSBM. Growth performances were not significantly different among four groups. In jejunum of 35-day-old broilers, partial replacement of SBM by FSBMB+L increased the activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT), and the FSBMB group had the highest catalase activity (p<0.05). Partial replacement of SBM by FSBM increased relative mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), and peptide transporter 1 (PepT1) (p<0.05); however, FSBMB+L increased CAT mRNA level to 5 times of the control (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Using Bv- and Lb-processed SBM through two-stage fermentation to partially replace 6% of diets will improve the gut's antioxidant activity under commercial breeding in broilers.

4.
Lupus ; 27(11): 1819-1827, 2018 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30103646

ABSTRACT

Objective This study investigated whether the incidence of opportunistic infection differed in systemic lupus erythematosus patients who received different doses of corticosteroids. Methods We included patients with diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus from 1997 to 2010 using Taiwan national health insurance data. The index day for systemic lupus erythematosus patients was 3 months after the systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis. A non-steroid cohort was matched 4:1 with the steroid cohort according to age, sex and index day. The end of the follow-up period was the day of opportunistic infection diagnosis, 1 year after the index day, or death. Results The overall cumulative incidence of opportunistic infection was 136-fold higher in the steroid cohort than in the non-steroid cohort. The adjusted hazard ratio for developing mycobacterium infection in the steroid cohort was 11, and the adjusted hazard ratio for developing herpes zoster was 43.6 compared to the non-steroid cohort after adjusting for immunosuppressive agents and comorbidities. The adjusted hazard ratio value for opportunistic infection was 1.40 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.78-2.51) for a daily prednisone-equivalent dose of 7.5-15 mg, 1.72 (95% CI 1.02-2.91) for 15-30 mg, 1.96 (95% CI 1.17-3.28) for 30-60 mg and 2.24 (95% CI 1.26-4.00) for over 60 mg compared with low-dose steroids (<7.5 mg). Conclusion This study confirmed that the risk of opportunistic infection is higher in systemic lupus erythematosus patients treated with steroids in the first 3 months after diagnosis versus those not treated with steroids. Medium and high doses were associated with a higher risk of opportunistic infection compared with low doses. However, there was no controlling for disease activity, making it hard to know if increases in infection were due to disease itself or corticosteroids.


Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex Hormones/administration & dosage , Immunosuppressive Agents/administration & dosage , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/complications , Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic/drug therapy , Opportunistic Infections/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Cohort Studies , Comorbidity , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Herpes Zoster/epidemiology , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Incidence , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Proportional Hazards Models , Risk Factors , Taiwan/epidemiology , Young Adult
5.
Transplant Proc ; 47(6): 1945-8, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26293078

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Hyperlactatemia may occur early after cardiac surgery and is correlated with prognosis. This study was conducted to analyze the perioperative variables and postoperative outcomes among heart transplant recipients with extremely high lactate levels (>15 mmol/L). METHODS: The single-center medical records of heart transplantation from June 2006 to May 2013 were retrospectively reviewed for patient characteristics, perioperative hemodynamic variables, arterial blood gas analysis data, and postoperative mortality. RESULTS: Among 58 consecutive heart transplant recipients, lactate levels over the detectable upper limit (>15 mmol/L) were identified in 12 patients after intensive care unit admission, with peak time at 1.9 ± 2.0 (range 0-6.1) hours. The maximal preoperative lactate level was 3.1 mmol/L, and most (11/12) postoperative lactate levels returned to <4 mmol/L at 27.5 ± 12.8 hours after surgery (range 15-58, median 24), displaying a trend toward delayed extubation time in 10 recipients (P < .01). Blood glucose levels elevated significantly from preoperative 148.9 ± 45.2 to 375.7 ± 96.9 mg/dL at peak lactate level (P < .01). Four patients died in the ICU (range 5-32 days), 4 died after discharge (range 5-57 months), with 6 in total surviving over 1 year. CONCLUSION: Extreme hyperlactatemia commonly occurred early after heart transplantation and mostly recovered within 30 hours; however, with delayed extubation time after operation.


Subject(s)
Heart Transplantation/adverse effects , Hyperlactatemia , Adult , Aged , Blood Gas Analysis , Female , Hospital Mortality , Humans , Hyperlactatemia/blood , Hyperlactatemia/mortality , Intensive Care Units/statistics & numerical data , Lactic Acid/blood , Male , Middle Aged , Postoperative Complications/mortality , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies , Survival Analysis
6.
Ann Oncol ; 26(5): 943-949, 2015 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25632066

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Previous clinical trials have not proved that adding epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors to chemotherapy confers a survival benefit for patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (ABTC). Whether the KRAS mutation status of tumor cells confounded the results of past studies is unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: ABTC patients stratified by KRAS status, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, and primary tumor location were randomized 1 : 1 to receive GEMOX (800 mg/m(2) gemcitabine and 85 mg/m(2) oxaliplatin) or C-GEMOX (500 mg/m(2) cetuximab plus GEMOX) every 2 weeks. The primary end point was objective response rate (ORR). RESULTS: The study enrolled 122 patients between December 2010 and May 2012 (62 treated with C-GEMOX and 60 with GEMOX). Compared with GEMOX alone, C-GEMOX was associated with trend to better ORR (27% versus 15%; P = 0.12) and progression-free survival (PFS, 6.7 versus 4.1 months; P = 0.05), but not overall survival (OS, 10.6 versus 9.8 months; P = 0.91). KRAS mutations, which were detected in 36% of tumor samples, did not affect the trends of difference in ORR and PFS between C-GEMOX and GEMOX. The two treatment arms had similar adverse events, except that more patients had skin rashes, allergic reactions, and neutropenia in the C-GEMOX arm. Of patients with C-GEMOX, the presence of a grade 2 or 3 skin rash was associated with significantly better ORR, PFS, and OS. CONCLUSIONS: Addition of cetuximab did not significantly improve the ORR of GEMOX chemotherapy in ABTC, although a trend of PFS improvement was observed. The trend of improvement did not correlate with KRAS mutation status. CLINICAL TRIALS NUMBER: This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT01267344). All patients gave written informed consent.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/drug therapy , Cetuximab/administration & dosage , Deoxycytidine/analogs & derivatives , Mutation , Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/adverse effects , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/genetics , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/mortality , Biliary Tract Neoplasms/pathology , Cetuximab/adverse effects , Deoxycytidine/adverse effects , Deoxycytidine/therapeutic use , Disease Progression , Disease-Free Survival , Drug Administration Schedule , Female , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Humans , Kaplan-Meier Estimate , Male , Middle Aged , Organoplatinum Compounds/adverse effects , Organoplatinum Compounds/therapeutic use , Phenotype , Proportional Hazards Models , Taiwan , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome
7.
Indian J Cancer ; 52(3): 454-60, 2015.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26905168

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Esophageal cancer is commonly treated with surgery, concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT), or a combination of both. The correlation between the hematological parameters during CCRT and early survival of esophageal cancer has not been fully evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the records of 65 esophageal cancer patients treated by CCRT between 2007 and 2010 retrospectively. The association between CCRT-associated myelosuppression, demographic variables, and survival rates were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The univariate analysis showed that tumor extent of T3-4, a higher stage of tumor, a lower albumin level, grade 3 or higher anemia and thrombocytopenia, and interruptions in treatment affected survival rates. Further, the multivariate analysis revealed that stage IV (P = 0.030) is an independently negative prognostic factor for a one-year survival rate. Stage IV (P = 0.035), tumor extent of T3-4 (P = 0.002), and grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia (P = 0.015) are independently negative prognostic factors for a two-year survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: Severe decrease in platelet count during CCRT independently affects survival of esophageal cancer patients in addition to stage of the tumor.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Esophageal Neoplasms/complications , Esophageal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Thrombocytopenia/chemically induced , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Chemoradiotherapy , Esophageal Neoplasms/mortality , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Thrombocytopenia/therapy
8.
Mol Oral Microbiol ; 30(3): 198-216, 2015 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25220060

ABSTRACT

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a bacterial species that causes destruction of periodontal tissues. Additionally, previous evidence indicates that GroEL from P. gingivalis may possess biological activities involved in systemic inflammation, especially inflammation involved in the progression of periodontal diseases. The literature has established a relationship between periodontal disease and cancer. However, it is unclear whether P. gingivalis GroEL enhances tumor growth. Here, we investigated the effects of P. gingivalis GroEL on neovasculogenesis in C26 carcinoma cell-carrying BALB/c mice and chick eggs in vivo as well as its effect on human endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) in vitro. We found that GroEL treatment accelerated tumor growth (tumor volume and weight) and increased the mortality rate in C26 cell-carrying BALB/c mice. GroEL promoted neovasculogenesis in chicken embryonic allantois and increased the circulating EPC level in BALB/c mice. Furthermore, GroEL effectively stimulated EPC migration and tube formation and increased E-selectin expression, which is mediated by eNOS production and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation. Additionally, GroEL may enhance resistance against paclitaxel-induced cell cytotoxicity and senescence in EPC. In conclusion, P. gingivalis GroEL may act as a potent virulence factor, contributing to the neovasculogenesis of tumor cells and resulting in accelerated tumor growth.


Subject(s)
Bacterial Proteins/metabolism , Chaperonin 60/metabolism , Colonic Neoplasms/microbiology , Endothelial Progenitor Cells/metabolism , Porphyromonas gingivalis/pathogenicity , Allantois/blood supply , Animals , Cell Line, Tumor , Chick Embryo , E-Selectin/metabolism , Endothelial Progenitor Cells/cytology , Humans , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Microscopy, Confocal , Neovascularization, Physiologic , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Porphyromonas gingivalis/genetics , Recombinant Proteins/metabolism , Virulence Factors/metabolism , p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
9.
Technology (Singap World Sci) ; 2(1): 75, 2014 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25045720

ABSTRACT

We report here the technology and the underlying science of a new device for inhalation (pulmonary) drug delivery which is capable of fulfilling needs unmet by current commercial devices. The core of the new device is a centimeter-size clog-free silicon-based ultrasonic nozzle with multiple Fourier horns in resonance at megahertz (MHz) frequency. The dramatic resonance effect among the multiple horns and high growth rate of the MHz Faraday waves excited on a medicinal liquid layer together facilitate ejection of monodisperse droplets of desirable size range (2-5 µm) at low electrical drive power (<1.0 W). The small nozzle requiring low drive power has enabled realization of a pocket-size (8.6 × 5.6 × 1.5 cm3) ultrasonic nebulizer. A variety of common pulmonary drugs have been nebulized using the pocket-size unit with desirable aerosol sizes and output rate. These results clearly provide proof-of-principle for the new device and confirm its potential for commercialization.

10.
Transplant Proc ; 46(4): 1077-81, 2014 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24815133

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Optimal myocardial protection for donated hearts is crucial to improve outcomes of heart transplantation and reduce morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to compare the efficacy of myocardial protection using single dose of Bretschneider's histidine-tryptophan-ketoglutarate (HTK) solution and repeated doses of cold blood cardioplegia (CBC) in donor heart preservation. METHODS: Sixty-seven patients undergoing heart transplantation in Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan between 2002 and 2012 were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into an HTK group and a CBC group based on the preservation solution used to protect the donated hearts. The perioperative variables and postoperative outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. RESULTS: There were no statistic differences about demographic data in donors and recipients between the 2 groups. There were no significant differences in postoperative cardiac enzymes, hemodynamic data, length of stay in intensive care, or 30-day mortality between the groups. The HTK group showed a trend of shorter pumping time (P = .091). Multivariate analyses reveal that the HTK group had higher postoperative inotropic score (P < .001) and shorter pumping time (P = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Single dose of Bretschneider's HTK solution could effectively reduce pumping time and afford similar myocardial protection compared with repeated doses of CBC in the preservation of donated hearts.


Subject(s)
Cardioplegic Solutions/therapeutic use , Cold Temperature , Heart Arrest, Induced/methods , Heart Failure/surgery , Heart Transplantation , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/prevention & control , Organ Preservation Solutions/therapeutic use , Organ Preservation/methods , Tissue and Organ Harvesting , Adult , Chi-Square Distribution , Female , Glucose/therapeutic use , Heart Arrest, Induced/adverse effects , Heart Failure/diagnosis , Heart Failure/mortality , Heart Failure/physiopathology , Heart Transplantation/adverse effects , Heart Transplantation/mortality , Hemodynamics/drug effects , Hospitals, General , Humans , Intensive Care Units , Length of Stay , Male , Mannitol/therapeutic use , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Myocardial Contraction/drug effects , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/diagnosis , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/etiology , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/physiopathology , Organ Preservation/adverse effects , Potassium Chloride/therapeutic use , Procaine/therapeutic use , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Stroke Volume/drug effects , Taiwan , Time Factors , Tissue and Organ Harvesting/adverse effects , Treatment Outcome , Ventricular Function, Left/drug effects
11.
Transplant Proc ; 46(3): 934-6, 2014 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24767384

ABSTRACT

Heart transplantation (HT) is the standard therapy used to treat end-stage heart disease. Taiwan Organ Registry and Sharing Center (TORSC) is a registry and database of organ donations and transplantations. To understand the profiles of heart donors and recipients is crucial for efficient utilization. Data was provided by the TORSC and 487 HT were performed from 2005 to 2010. The main causes of donor brain death were head injury (n = 243; 51.1%) and cerebrovascular accidents/strokes (n = 147; 30.9%). The mean age of the recipients was 46.3 ± 14.6 years, and 80.3% were men (n = 391). Physicians and nurses were responsible for most organ procurement. In multivariate analysis, considering donor and recipient gender, donor and recipient age, and donor-to-recipient weight ratio as independent variables, factors that were significantly predictive of graft survival were donor age (hazard rate [HR], 1.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.03; P = .01) and recipient age (HR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.04; P < .01). Our results showed that age is a determinant of allograft survival and healthcare professionals are the primary impetus for obtaining consent for organ donation.


Subject(s)
Heart Transplantation , Adult , Female , Graft Survival , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Taiwan
12.
QJM ; 107(4): 283-90, 2014 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24336850

ABSTRACT

AIM: Periodontal disease encompasses gingivitis and periodontitis, which exerts systemic effects. We conducted a population-based study to evaluate the association between periodontal disease and the risk of cancer. METHODS: We used insurance claims data from 1997 to 2010, accessing a database of 1 million randomly selected insurants in Taiwan. All patients were older than 20 and newly diagnosed with periodontitis between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2010. The comparison cohort comprised patients older than 20, who were newly diagnosed with gingivitis in the same period. Both cohorts were followed until a cancer diagnosis, lost to follow-up, death, termination of insurance, or the end of 2010. RESULTS: The incidence rate of cancer was 1.14 times higher in the study cohort than in the comparison cohort [confidence interval (CI) = 1.11-1.17]. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.05 (95% CI = 1.00-1.11). A multivariable analysis showed that the periodontitis patients exhibited an elevated risk of developing oral cancer (adjusted HR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.42-2.25). CONCLUSION: The findings indicated that patients in the periodontitis cohort exhibited a higher risk of developing oral cancer than those in the gingivitis cohort.


Subject(s)
Gingivitis/complications , Mouth Neoplasms/etiology , Periodontitis/complications , Adult , Aged , Cohort Studies , Comorbidity , Female , Gingivitis/epidemiology , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Neoplasms/epidemiology , Periodontitis/epidemiology , Risk Assessment/methods , Sex Distribution , Taiwan/epidemiology , Young Adult
13.
Transplant Proc ; 44(3): 661-6, 2012 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22483463

ABSTRACT

Posttransplant new-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) is an important complication among patients receiving immunosuppressants. It has a considerable impact on chronic allograft dysfunction. Calcineurin inhibitors have been implicated in the development of posttransplant NODM. Since high-risk candidates also undergo transplantation, prevention and control of posttransplant NODM is important. A 3-year postmarketing surveillance study is currently underway in Taiwan to evaluate the incidence and risk factors leading to development of NODM among de novo and maintenance solid-organ transplant patients receiving cyclosporine (CsA)-based immunosuppressive therapy. Concomitant therapy consisted of basiliximab, mycophenolate mofetil or enteric-coated mycophenolate sodium, and corticosteroids. Diabetes was diagnosed according to the American Diabetes Association criteria. This 6-month protocol-defined interim analysis included 101 patients (84 de novo, 17 maintenance) who received renal (n = 77), liver (n = 13), or heart (n = 11) transplantation. At the end of 6 months, 8/101 (7.92%) patients experienced NODM. The mean time to NODM was 3.05 months. No significant difference was observed between NODM and non-NODM patients for risk factors: age, body mass index, blood pressure, gender, high-density lipoproteins/triglycerides hdl/tg, and anti-hepatitis C virus. The composite endpoint of biopsy-proven acute rejection, graft loss, or death was reached in four patients, with a mean time to event of 3.81 months. Infections were noted in 34 subjects but, no malignancies. Among 389 adverse events reported in 91 patients (90.1%), the majority were of mild to moderate severity. Two deaths were reported: heart transplant recipients with acute rejection and cytomegalovirus meningitis with respiratory failure. Long-term enrollment with follow-up evaluation of these NODM patients up to 3 years will help evaluate the NODM incidence rates and exact graft survival and overall survival rates of CsA-treated transplant patients in Taiwan.


Subject(s)
Cyclosporine/adverse effects , Diabetes Mellitus/chemically induced , Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects , Organ Transplantation , Product Surveillance, Postmarketing , Adult , Cyclosporine/therapeutic use , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Female , Humans , Immunosuppressive Agents/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Taiwan/epidemiology
14.
Acta Chir Belg ; 112(6): 453-6, 2012.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23397831

ABSTRACT

We report the case of a 67-year-old man who was found to have asymptomatic murmurs during his health check-up. Echocardiography revealed a mobile spherical mass in the left ventricle (LV), whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study revealed a well-circumscribed heterogeneous mass in the LV with its base attached to the LV apex. To the best of our knowledge, such a case of hemangioma, particularly its rare location at the apex of the LV, and its asymptomatic conduction disturbance has not yet been reported in the medical literature. Because of successful surgical intervention, the patient is in good health without any further tumor recurrence at 24 months after the diagnosis.


Subject(s)
Heart Neoplasms/pathology , Hemangioma/pathology , Aged , Heart Murmurs/etiology , Heart Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Heart Neoplasms/surgery , Heart Ventricles , Hemangioma/diagnostic imaging , Hemangioma/surgery , Humans , Male , Ultrasonography
15.
Acta Chir Belg ; 111(6): 404-6, 2011.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22299331

ABSTRACT

We report the case of a 41-year-old man with symptoms of exertional dyspnoea and easy fatigue. Physical examination revealed a palpable mass with knocking pain over the right flank region and a cardiac murmur with jugular vein engorgement. Transoesophageal echocardiography revealed a right atrial mass that caused tricuspid inflow obstruction. Computed tomography revealed a giant mass (approximately 15 x 15 cm2) in the right kidney; this finding was consistent with renal cell carcinoma. Despite the metastatic status, right nephrectomy was performed and the intra-atrial tumour thrombus (TT) was resected under a cardiopulmonary bypass in order to relieve the tricuspid obstruction. Histological examination confirmed renal cell carcinoma with TT. The patient is healthy with satisfactory systolic function at 1-year follow-up.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/surgery , Heart Atria/surgery , Heart Neoplasms/surgery , Kidney Neoplasms/pathology , Neoplastic Cells, Circulating , Vena Cava, Inferior , Venous Thrombosis/etiology , Adult , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/diagnosis , Carcinoma, Renal Cell/secondary , Cardiopulmonary Bypass , Follow-Up Studies , Heart Atria/pathology , Heart Neoplasms/diagnosis , Heart Neoplasms/secondary , Humans , Kidney Neoplasms/diagnosis , Kidney Neoplasms/surgery , Male , Nephrectomy , Thrombectomy , Treatment Outcome , Venous Thrombosis/surgery
16.
Transplant Proc ; 42(9): 3597-9, 2010 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21094822

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: We employed the 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36) and 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) to assess the quality of life (QoL) of donors after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). METHODS: This longitudinal prospective study had data collection via an interview and test or a mailed survey. Fifty-one liver LDLT donors underwent testing before and after donation using the SF-36 questionnaire and 6MWD. RESULTS: The physical component summary (PCS) of the SF-36 declined (P < .0001) and the mental component summary (MCS) increased significantly (P = .04) at 1 month after donation. The 6MWD declined significantly at 2 weeks after donation (P < .0001). After standardization, there was a high correlation between PCS and 6MWD (r(2) = 0.766). CONCLUSIONS: Liver donation had a moderate impact on donor physical status, but enhanced mental status. Similar decreasing trends were observed in 6MWD and PCS. After donation, real physical performance predicted PCS but not MCS.


Subject(s)
Exercise Test , Hepatectomy , Liver Transplantation , Physical Fitness , Quality of Life , Surveys and Questionnaires , Tissue Donors , Hepatectomy/adverse effects , Hepatectomy/psychology , Humans , Liver Transplantation/adverse effects , Liver Transplantation/psychology , Longitudinal Studies , Prospective Studies , Taiwan , Time Factors , Tissue Donors/psychology , Treatment Outcome
17.
J Int Med Res ; 37(4): 1088-96, 2009.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19761691

ABSTRACT

Both Sjögren's syndrome (SS) and non-Sjögren's syndrome (NSS) can present with the sicca symptoms of dry eyes and a dry mouth but they are distinct pathological entities that require diagnostic discrimination. This study included 82 sicca syndrome patients and examined the ability of sialoscintigraphy and antibodies against the autoantigens alpha-fodrin, Ro and La to discriminate between SS and NSS. A total of 30.8% of SS patients compared with 58.8% of NSS patients were alpha-fodrin positive. The prevalence of Ro positivity was 69.4% for SS patients compared with 0% for NSS patients. The prevalence of La positivity was 52.4% for SS compared with 0% for NSS patients. Sialoscintigraphy showed that more NSS patients had grade III salivary gland impairment compared with SS patients (64.7% versus 19.4%). These data suggest that using sialoscintigraphy in combination with measuring the levels of serum alpha-fodrin, Ro and La might be useful for SS and NSS discrimination.


Subject(s)
Autoantibodies/immunology , Radionuclide Imaging/methods , Salivary Glands/pathology , Sjogren's Syndrome/diagnosis , Xerophthalmia/diagnosis , Autoantigens/analysis , Autoantigens/blood , Autoantigens/immunology , Biomarkers/blood , Carrier Proteins/immunology , Diagnosis, Differential , Female , Humans , Male , Microfilament Proteins/immunology , Middle Aged , Ribonucleoproteins/analysis , Ribonucleoproteins/immunology , Salivary Glands/diagnostic imaging , Sjogren's Syndrome/immunology , Xerophthalmia/immunology , SS-B Antigen
18.
Clin Nephrol ; 72(2): 122-8, 2009 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19640369

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Protamine, when administered to neutralize heparin in cardiovascular surgery, is associated with occasionally severe antigen-antibody reactions associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to investigate whether patients on hemodialysis are more susceptible to the protamine adverse effects. METHOD: First, a retrospective analysis of a protamine-associated hypotension episode (PAHE) in 239 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery was performed for the incidence study in the period of 1999 to 2005. Second, an ELISA determination of serum anti-protamine IgG antibody in 255 serum samples from individuals without previous surgical histories was conducted for prevalence survey. In both studies, patients on HD were matched for age with non HD patients. RESULTS: The highest incidence (57%) of PAHE occurred in patients on hemodialysis using of M-insulin (a mixed type of insulin aspart 30%, insulin aspart protamine 70%) formulation, and this group also exhibited a high anti-protamine IgG antibody titer in serum (odds ratio: 18.31). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of patients on hemodialysis are at high risk of acquiring protamine adverse effects, but definite conclusion about the association between uremia and PAHE, however, still needs to be made with caution.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/immunology , Coronary Disease/complications , Hypotension/chemically induced , Kidney Failure, Chronic/therapy , Protamines/adverse effects , Protamines/immunology , Renal Dialysis , Adult , Aged , Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic/blood , Coronary Artery Bypass , Coronary Disease/blood , Coronary Disease/surgery , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Heparin Antagonists/administration & dosage , Heparin Antagonists/adverse effects , Humans , Hypotension/epidemiology , Hypotension/immunology , Infusions, Intravenous , Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications , Kidney Failure, Chronic/immunology , Male , Middle Aged , Prevalence , Protamines/administration & dosage , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Taiwan/epidemiology
19.
Nanotechnology ; 20(2): 025301, 2009 Jan 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19417267

ABSTRACT

Porous nanomasks have been prepared in situ on an insulating silicon wafer by anodization of an aluminum film grown on it. Ultra-thin nanomasks, around 50 nm thick, were fabricated by utilizing a stop signal, a vivid color appearing at the air-electrolyte interface, and the process involved showed excellent repeatability. Finally, 2D nanoscale p-n junction arrays were fabricated on a silicon on insulator (SOI) wafer using the ultra-thin nanomasks prepared. The experimental results are in good agreement with the simulated results on the characteristics of the anodization process involved.

20.
Eur J Gynaecol Oncol ; 29(5): 483-8, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19051818

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION: The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate prognostic variables and impact of adjuvant therapy in uterine carcinosarcoma. METHODS: The clinical information and pathological confirmation were reviewed for cases with uterine carcinosarcoma from 1984 to 2005. A total of 45 patients were eligible for analysis. RESULTS: The median follow-up for survivors was 84 months. Five-year overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 36.5% and 33.8%, respectively for Stage I-IV. Distant site metastasis with/without pelvic failure occurred in 83.3% of those with recurrence/progression. By multivariate analysis, older age (p = 0.001) and more than half of myometrial invasion (p = 0.002) were significant predictors of death, while only myometrial invasion (p = 0.022) was significantly associated with PFS. Stratified analyses demonstrated a monotonic trend of chemotherapy or chemoradiation to decrease death. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that age and depth of myometrial invasion were significant prognostic factors, and chemotherapy or chemoradiation seemed to be beneficial for uterine carcinosarcoma.


Subject(s)
Carcinosarcoma/mortality , Carcinosarcoma/therapy , Uterine Neoplasms/mortality , Uterine Neoplasms/therapy , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Carcinosarcoma/pathology , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Disease-Free Survival , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Myometrium/pathology , Neoplasm Invasiveness , Prognosis , Radiotherapy, Adjuvant , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Uterine Neoplasms/pathology
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