Mediated relationship between Vitamin D deficiency and reduced pulmonary function by copper in Taiwanese young adults.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent worldwide and associated with worse outcomes in various lung diseases. This study examines the association between vitamin D deficiency and pulmonary function in healthy young adults.

Methods: This prospective cohort study (2017-2019) explored the impact of vitamin D deficiency on pulmonary function in a community-based young adult population.

Clinical Predictors of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Lung Disease and Coisolates of Potential Pathogenic Microorganisms in Noncystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Background: In bronchiectasis, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease (NTM-LD) is a well-known coexisting infection. However, microorganism coisolates and clinical NTM-LD predictors are poorly studied.

Methods: Patients with bronchiectasis diagnosed by means of computed tomography between January 2017 and June 2020 were screened, using the date of computed tomography as the index date.

Gut microbiota dysbiosis-related susceptibility to nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

The role of gut microbiota in host defense against nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) was poorly understood. Here, we showed significant gut microbiota dysbiosis in patients with NTM-LD. Reduced abundance of was significantly associated with NTM-LD and its disease severity.

Impaired lung function and lung cancer risk in 461 183 healthy individuals: a cohort study.

Background: It has been known that smoking and various lung diseases including lung cancer can cause lung function impairment. However, the impact of different types of lung function impairments, such as preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm) and airflow obstruction (AO), on the incidence and mortality of lung cancer in both general and never-smoker populations remains unclear. We wished to examine the effect of lung function impairments on lung cancer risks.

CT findings as predictive factors for treatment failure in Mycobacterium abscessus complex lung disease: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) commonly causes lung disease (LD) and has a high treatment failure rate of around 50%. In this study, our objective is to investigate specific CT patterns for predicting treatment prognosis and monitoring treatment response, thus providing valuable insights for clinical physicians in the management of MABC-LD treatment.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed 34 patients with MABC-LD treated between January 2015 and December 2020.

The effect of statins on the risk of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced liver injury among patients with active tuberculosis: A cohort study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains prevalent worldwide, and anti-TB drugs are associated with drug-induced liver injury (DILI). Statins have pleiotropic effects which may decrease inflammation and achieve immunomodulation. However, few studies have investigated the pleiotropic effects of statins on the risk of DILI.

The prevalence, clinical reasoning and impact of non-standard anti-tuberculosis regimens at the initial prescription.

Regarding clinically-concerning non-standard initial anti-tuberculous (TB) regimens, few studies have examined their prevalence, risk factors and impacts. We recruited patients with drug susceptible TB and non-standard initial anti-TB regimens (NSTB group) and matched them with patients with standard initial regimens (STB group) in a 1:1 ratio. The risk factors and outcomes were analyzed.

Association between statin use and tuberculosis risk in patients with bronchiectasis: a retrospective population-based cohort study in Taiwan.

Background: Chronic airway diseases have been associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB); however, data in patients with bronchiectasis is limited. Statins have been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by modulating the inflammatory response. This study investigated whether statin treatment could reduce the risk of TB in patients with bronchiectasis.

Increased Tuberculosis Reactivation Risk in Patients Receiving Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor-Based Therapy.

Objective: Reports of tuberculosis (TB) during anticancer treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are increasing. However, it is not clear whether the use of ICIs is a significant risk factor for TB, including reactivation or latent TB infection (LTBI).

Methods: To determine the risk of TB reactivation in patients with lung cancer who use ICIs or tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), we conducted a retrospective study using a hospital-based cancer registry.

The impact of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease in critically ill patients: Significance for survival and ventilator use.

Background: This study investigates the impact of nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD) on mortality and mechanical ventilation use in critically ill patients.

Methods: We enrolled patients with NTM-LD or tuberculosis (TB) in intensive care units (ICU) and analysed their association with 30-day mortality and with mechanical ventilator-free survival (VFS) at 30 days after ICU admission.

Results: A total of 5996 ICU-admitted patients were included, of which 541 (9.

The role of treatment regimen and duration in treating patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease: A real-world experience and case-control study.

Purpose: The treatment advantage of guideline-based therapy (GBT) in Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease (MAC-LD) is well-known. However, GBT is not always feasible. The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship of treatment regimens and duration with outcomes.

Microbiological persistence in patients with Mycobacterium abscessus complex lung disease: The prevalence, predictors, and the impact on progression.

Objectives: Persistent growth of Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABC) in the respiratory system is not uncommon and may indicate continuous infection of MABC lung disease (MABC-LD), but its prevalence, risk factors, and clinical impact have not been investigated.

Methods: The present study was conducted in two medical centers in northern Taiwan. We enrolled patients with MABC-LD and investigated the prevalence and predictors of persistent culture positivity (MABC-PP).

The incidence of tuberculosis recurrence: Impacts of treatment duration of and adherence to standard anti-tuberculous therapy.

Background: We investigated the impacts of the standard treatment durations of and adherence to standard anti-tuberculous therapy (ATT) on recurrence after the successful completion of tuberculosis (TB) treatment.

Methods: We recruited patients with TB who had received treatment for six or nine months from the 2008-2017 databases of the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database. Treatment duration and adherence to standard ATT were analyzed for their impacts on recurrence within two years.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors and the risk of mycobacterial pulmonary infections in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for mycobacterial pulmonary infections (MPI), including tuberculosis (TB) and nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease (NTM-LD). Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitor (DPP4i), a common DM medication, has an immune-modulation effect that raises concerns about developing MPI. However, there is scarce research on the topic.

Protective Effect of BCG and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio on Latent Tuberculosis in End Stage Renal Disease.

Introduction: Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination has been reported to be protective against latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in the general population. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect of BCG vaccination against LTBI in adult patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and renal transplants.

Methods: Patients aged ≥ 20 years with ESRD who received hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD) or kidney transplant were enrolled from January 2012 to December 2019 at a medical center and a regional hemodialysis center.

Prevention and management of tuberculosis in solid organ transplantation: A consensus statement of the transplantation society of Taiwan.

Solid organ transplant recipients have an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). Due to the use of immunosuppressants, the incidence of TB among solid organ transplant recipients has been consistently reported to be higher than that among the general population. TB frequently develops within the first year after transplantation when a high level of immunosuppression is maintained.

Prior treated tuberculosis and mortality risk in lung cancer.

Background: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide, and tuberculosis (TB) is a common pre-existing disease. However, there is scarce literature studying the mortality risk in patients with prior TB and subsequent lung cancer.

Methods: We recruited lung cancer patients from the Taiwan Cancer Registry from 2011 to 2015 and classified them into two groups according to presence or absence of prior TB.

Management of nontuberculous mycobacteria in lung transplant cases: an international Delphi study.

Rationale: Nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases are difficult-to-treat infections, especially in lung transplant (LTx) candidates. Currently, there is a paucity of recommendations on the management of NTM infections in LTx, focusing on complex (MAC), and .

Methods: Pulmonologists, infectious disease specialists, LTx surgeons and Delphi experts with expertise in NTM were recruited.

Using an Artificial Intelligence Approach to Predict the Adverse Effects and Prognosis of Tuberculosis.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide and a major cause of ill health. Without treatment, the mortality rate of TB is approximately 50%; with treatment, most patients with TB can be cured. However, anti-TB drug treatments may result in many adverse effects.

Circulating mitochondrial cell-free DNA dynamics in patients with mycobacterial pulmonary infections: Potential for a novel biomarker of disease.

Objectives: Human mitochondrial cell-free DNA (Mt-cfDNA) may serve as a useful biomarker for infectious processes. We investigated Mt-cfDNA dynamics in patients with pulmonary mycobacterial infections to determine if this novel biomarker could be used to differentiate disease states and severity.

Methods: Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), and nontuberculous mycobacterial-lung disease (NTM-LD) were enrolled at a tertiary care hospital in Taiwan between June 2018 and August 2021.

Impact on Macrolide Resistance of Genetic Diversity of Mycobacterium abscessus Species.

Our previous study identified that the Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. T28 sequevar does not fully represent inducible macrolide resistance. Thus, we initiated a correlation study between genotypes and phenotypes.