Attenuating heat-induced acute lung inflammation and injury by dextromethorphan in rats.

Dextromethorphan (DM) has been shown to protect against endotoxic shock in mice. Heatstroke resembles sepsis in many respects. The objective of this study was to examine the heat-induced acute lung inflammation and injury in rats with or without DM, and for comparison with those of the rats with MK-801 (an N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonist), SA4503 (a sigma-1 receptor agonist), or fluoxetine (a serotonin reuptake inhibitor).

Oxidative stress and pyrogenic fever pathogenesis.

The causative/regulatory connections between changes in tissue redox state and fever induction were investigated herein. Wherefore, LPS, the primary element of bacterial cell wall, in addition to inducing pro-inflammatory cytokines, activated macrophages and other leukocytes to secrete hydroxyl radical (OH), nitric oxide metabolites (NO(x)(-)), superoxide (O(2)) and other reactive oxygen/nitrogen species. Furthermore, inflammation response-associated hypoxia stimulated glutamate release, which caused excitotoxicity of cells by increasing extracellular Ca(2+).

Absence of endemic measles transmission in a highly vaccinated population from 1999 to 2008: implications of sustained measles elimination in Taiwan.

Background: Measles remains a leading vaccine-preventable cause of child mortality worldwide. The impact of vaccination programs can be seen in the increasingly low incidence of measles. However, cases of measles continue to occur in low numbers every year in Taiwan.

Clinical features and short-term outcome of critically ill patients with head and neck cancer in the medical intensive care unit.

Objectives: To investigate the clinical features, especially cancer-related complications, and short-term outcome of critically ill patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) in the medical intensive care unit.

Methods: We reviewed 57 patients with a diagnosis of HNC in the medical intensive care unit (≥ 24 hours) of a tertiary-care medical center between January 1999 and December 2005.

Results: Thirty-two (56.

Readmission to the intensive care unit: an indicator that reflects the potential risks of morbidity and mortality of surgical patients in the intensive care unit.

Purpose: To investigate the characteristics and outcomes of surgical patients who were readmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods: The data were collected for all readmissions to the surgical ICUs in a tertiary hospital in the year 2003.

Results: Of all the 945 ICU discharges, 110 patients (11.

Pyogenic liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae: analysis of the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 84 patients.

Background: The increased incidence of pyogenic liver abscess caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae (K.pneumoniae) was reported in the recent literature. This study was conducted retrospectively to investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of these patients.

A stand-alone peristaltic micropump based on piezoelectric actuation.

Despite significant efforts to develop micropumps, cumbersome driving equipment means that the design of portable micropumps remains a challenge. This study presents a stand-alone micropump system, which includes a peristaltic micropump based on piezoelectric actuation and a driving circuit. This battery-based driving circuit comprises a 12 V battery, an ATmega 8535 microprocessor, a 12 V-to-180 V DC to DC converter using transformerless technology, three differential amplifiers, an IC 7805, a phase controller, an A/D converter, a keyboard and an LCD module.

Activated protein C therapy in a rat heat stroke model.

Objective: To evaluate the therapeutic effects of activated protein C in an animal model of heat stroke.

Design: Laboratory investigation.

Setting: Chi-Mei Medical Center research laboratory.

Intravenous injection of methylprednisolone reduces the incidence of postextubation stridor in intensive care unit patients.

Objective: To determine whether treatment with corticosteroids decreases the incidence of postextubation airway obstruction in an adult intensive care unit.

Design: Clinical experiment.

Setting: Adult medical and surgical intensive care unit of a teaching hospital.

Pyogenic liver abscess: a retrospective analysis of 107 patients during a 3-year period.

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a potentially life-threatening disease, and early diagnosis may be difficult. In order to provide diagnostic clues and to enhance the prompt management of such cases, we retrospectively investigated the clinical characteristics of PLA during a 3-year period in a tertiary-care hospital. The crude incidence rate of PLA in our study was 446.

Activation of human telomerase reverse transcriptase expression by some new symmetrical bis-substituted derivatives of the anthraquinone.

As a part of our program aimed at exploring the biological activity of symmetrical substitution of side chains into the anthracene-9,10-dione chromophore, we have synthesized a series of 1,5-bisthioanthraquinones 2 and 1,5-bisacyloxyanthraquinones 3 that are related to the antitumor agent mitoxantrone. Since the telomerase enzyme is a novel target for potential anticancer therapy and stem cell expansion, we explore the biological effects of these compounds by evaluating their effects on telomerase activity and telomerase expression. Telomerase is required for telomere maintenance and is active in most human cancers and in germinal cells but not in most of the normal human somatic tissues.