House dust mites stimulate thymic stromal lymphopoietin production in human bronchial epithelial cells and promote airway remodeling through activation of PAR2 and ERK signaling pathway.

House dust mites (HDM) are common aeroallergens linked to airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma. Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) may mediate these immune responses. However, how the epithelium influences fibroblasts toward airway remodeling remains unclear.

Using Machine Learning with Impulse Oscillometry Data to Develop a Predictive Model for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Asthma.

We aimed to develop and validate a machine learning model using impulse oscillometry system (IOS) profiles for accurately classifying patients into three assessment-based categories: no airflow obstruction, asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Our research questions were as follows: (1) Can machine learning methods accurately classify obstructive disease states based solely on multidimensional IOS data? (2) Which IOS parameters and modeling algorithms provide the best discrimination? We used data for 480 patients (240 with COPD and 240 with asthma) and 84 healthy individuals for training. Physiological and IOS parameters were combined into six feature combinations.

Assessment of antibiotic resistance patterns in Central Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic: A retrospective study.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing worldwide public health issue due to the overuse and inappropriate use of antibiotics. AMR has been more prevalent during the coronavirus pandemic of 2019 (COVID-19) compared to previous periods. Therefore, this study was conducted to evaluate the AMR profile of common bacteria that were isolated for routine analysis during the pandemic of COVID-19 in Central Taiwan.

Angiotensin-(1-7) attenuates SARS-CoV2 spike protein-induced interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production in alveolar epithelial cells through activation of Mas receptor.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins (SP) can bind to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in human pulmonary alveolar epithelial cells (HPAEpiC) and trigger an inflammatory process. Angiotensin-(1-7) may have an anti-inflammatory effect through activation of Mas receptor. This study aims to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 SP can induce inflammation through ACE2 in the alveolar epithelial cells which can be modulated through angiotensin-(1-7)/Mas receptor axis.

Assessing the prognostic value of respiratory oscillometry in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma.

Respiratory oscillometry is widely explored in asthma management; however, there is currently no consensus on its routine work-up in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study involving patients with difficult-to-treat asthma at Asia University Hospital between January 2017 and October 2020. We aimed to correlate clinical significance of respiratory oscillometry and asthma treatment outcomes including symptoms control and exacerbation in patients with difficult-to-treat asthma.

A statistical approach to identify prevalent virulence factors responsible for post-weaning diarrhoeic piglets.

A statistical approach was carried out to identify the prevalent virulence factors responsible for post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD). Healthy piglets' faecal samples and diarrhoeic piglets' rectal swab specimens were secured. Twenty-six (26) and 100 independent enterotoxigenic (ETEC) strains were subsequently isolated.

Association of Rs8179090 Genotypes With Lung Cancer Risk in Taiwan.

Background/aim: The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) is a critical inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Along with MMPs, TIMP-2 regulates the breakdown and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membranes. This study investigated the role of genotypes of the TIMP-2 -418G/C (rs8179090) single nucleotide polymorphism on lung risk.

Benchmarking of eight recurrent neural network variants for breath phase and adventitious sound detection on a self-developed open-access lung sound database-HF_Lung_V1.

A reliable, remote, and continuous real-time respiratory sound monitor with automated respiratory sound analysis ability is urgently required in many clinical scenarios-such as in monitoring disease progression of coronavirus disease 2019-to replace conventional auscultation with a handheld stethoscope. However, a robust computerized respiratory sound analysis algorithm for breath phase detection and adventitious sound detection at the recording level has not yet been validated in practical applications. In this study, we developed a lung sound database (HF_Lung_V1) comprising 9,765 audio files of lung sounds (duration of 15 s each), 34,095 inhalation labels, 18,349 exhalation labels, 13,883 continuous adventitious sound (CAS) labels (comprising 8,457 wheeze labels, 686 stridor labels, and 4,740 rhonchus labels), and 15,606 discontinuous adventitious sound labels (all crackles).

Inhibition of the clinical isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: In vitro assessment of a case-based study.

Background: The global rise in nosocomial infections associated with gram-negative bacteria and the spread of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR-AB) pose public health concerns. This study investigates the inhibitory effects and possible inhibitory mechanism of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) on selected clinical strains of A. baumannii (AB) isolated from Taiwanese patients.

Association between asthma and risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a retrospective population-based study.

Objective: The association between asthma and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) has rarely been explored. We investigated whether male asthmatic patients had an increased risk of BPH by conducting this retrospective nationwide population-based study.

Methods: We utilized data derived from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan.

Asthma is associated with endometriosis: A retrospective population-based cohort study.

Background: Evidence regarding the association between asthma and endometriosis is limited and inconsistent. The goal of the study was to investigate whether women diagnosed as having asthma were at a greater risk of endometriosis than age-matched unaffected women.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide population-based retrospective study by using data retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database during the period of 2000-2005 with follow-up through 2013.

Association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and increased risk of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a retrospective nationwide cohort study.

Objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are common disorders in ageing male populations. Nevertheless, the relationship between the two diseases has rarely been explored. The objective of this study was to examine whether patients with COPD are at an increased risk of BPH.

Achieving zero waste of municipal incinerator fly ash by melting in electric arc furnaces while steelmaking.

The main objective of this work was to promote zero waste of municipal incinerator fly ash (MIFA) by full-scale melting in electric arc furnaces (EAFs) of steel mini mills around the world. MIFA, generally, is considered as a hazardous waste. Like in many countries, MIFA in Taiwan is first solidified/stabilized and then landfilled.

Tuning perovskite morphology by polymer additive for high efficiency solar cell.

Solution processable planar heterojunction perovskite solar cell is a very promising new technology for low cost renewable energy. One of the most common cell structures is FTO/TiO2/CH3NH3PbI3-xClx/spiro-OMeTAD/Au. The main issues of this type of solar cell are the poor coverage and morphology control of the perovskite CH3NH3PbI3-xClx film on TiO2.

Molecular typing and epidemiology of Clostridium difficile in respiratory care wards of central Taiwan.

Background/purpose: In industrialized countries, Clostridium difficile is the major cause of nosocomial diarrhea. This study involved a broad overview of baseline epidemiology for C. difficile in Taiwan.

Au/Pd core-shell nanoparticles with varied hollow Au cores for enhanced formic acid oxidation.

A facile method has been developed to synthesize Au/Pd core-shell nanoparticles via galvanic replacement of Cu by Pd on hollow Au nanospheres. The unique nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, and electrochemical measurements. When the concentration of the Au solution was decreased, grain size of the polycrystalline hollow Au nanospheres was reduced, and the structures became highly porous.

Synergistic activities of tigecycline with clarithromycin or amikacin against rapidly growing mycobacteria in Taiwan.

The occurrence of diseases caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) is increasing in Taiwan. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial activities of tigecycline, minocycline, tetracycline and doxycycline were evaluated against 160 clinical RGM isolates, including 34 Mycobacterium abscessus sensu stricto (s.s.

Synthesis of highly active and stable Au-PtCu core-shell nanoparticles for oxygen reduction reaction.

Au-PtCu core-shell nanoparticles were successfully synthesized via galvanic replacement of Cu by Pt on hollow Au nano-spheres. Characterizations of the nanoparticles were conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electrochemical measurements. Results indicate 2-2.

Trapping Iron Oxide into Hollow Gold Nanoparticles.

Synthesis of the core/shell-structured Fe3O4/Au nanoparticles by trapping Fe3O4 inside hollow Au nanoparticles is described. The produced composite nanoparticles are strongly magnetic with their surface plasmon resonance peaks in the near infrared region (wavelength from 700 to 800 nm), combining desirable magnetic and plasmonic properties into one nanoparticle. They are particularly suitable for in vivo diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Plasmonic properties of polycrystalline hollow Au nanoparticles: a surface roughness effect.

Hollow Au nanoparticles with a 25 nm polycrystalline shell and a 50 nm hollow core were produced in large amounts by using electrochemically evolved hydrogen nanobubbles as templates and reducing agents for electroless deposition from a Na3Au(SO3)2 electrolyte. The surface roughness of these nanoparticles can be tuned by adding NaSO3 into the electrolyte. Different surface roughnesses can be readily obtained for sub-100 nm particles with the same size.

Respiratory deposition model of an inhaled aerosol bolus.

The bolus delivery method is designed to deliver a dose to the desired location in the lung, and it has the advantage of fewer side effects and a more efficient way of delivery. Based upon the lung deposition model developed for continuously inhaling aerosols of constant concentration, a mathematical model of aerosol bolus deposition is proposed. The calculated results show that the recovery depends on the bolus penetration depth, flow rate, particle size, breath holding time and bolus volume.

Capturing electrochemically evolved nanobubbles by electroless deposition. A facile route to the synthesis of hollow nanoparticles.

Gas evolution during electrochemical deposition has long been regarded as undesired and deliberately suppressed. Here, we show a new role of electrochemically evolved hydrogen bubbles, serving as both templates and reducing agent to form hollow Au nanoparticles via electroless deposition. Hollow gold nanoparticles with a complete nanocrystalline shell and a 50 nm hollow core were fabricated.

The fabrication of short metallic nanotubes by templated electrodeposition.

Template-based electrochemical synthesis has widely been used to produce metal nanowires and nanorods. Commercially available filtration membranes, such as anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) and polycarbonate track etch membranes, have commonly been utilized as hard templates for this purpose. In this process, a thick metal film is usually sputtered or vacuum evaporated onto one side of the membrane to block the pores and serve as the working electrode for the subsequent electrodeposition.