Prevalence and risk factors for latent tuberculosis among diabetes patients in Taiwan: A cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a known risk factor for tuberculosis (TB), leading to an approximate three-fold higher risk of developing active TB. However, epidemiological studies on the prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in DM patients are lacking. In this study, we investigated the presence of LTBI and determined risk factors for LTBI in DM patients.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Application of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoprobes for Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis Detection.

A molecular imaging probe comprising superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) nanoparticles and Mycobacterium tuberculosis surface antibody (MtbsAb) was synthesized to enhance imaging sensitivity for extrapulmonary tuberculosis (ETB). An SPIO nanoprobe was synthesized and conjugated with MtbsAb. The purified SPIO-MtbsAb nanoprobe was characterized using TEM and NMR.

Comparison of the predictive outcomes for anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity by different machine learning techniques.

Background: The study compared the predictive outcomes of artificial neural network, support vector machine and random forest on the occurrence of anti-tuberculosis drug-induced hepatotoxicity.

Methods: The clinical and genomic data of patients treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs at Taipei Medical University-Wanfang Hospital were used as training sets, and those at Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital served as test sets. Features were selected through a univariate risk factor analysis and literature evaluation.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have a higher risk of occurrence of pneumonia by air pollution.

Epidemiological evidence has shown that air pollution is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of air pollution on patients with COPD and pneumonia. A case-control study of patients who had undergone thoracentesis for pleural effusion drainage in a hospital was recruited for this study.

Correction: S100A9+ MDSC and TAM-mediated EGFR-TKI resistance in lung adenocarcinoma: the role of RELB.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24146.

Bevacizumab Reduces S100A9-Positive MDSCs Linked to Intracranial Control in Patients with EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: In vitro models have demonstrated immune-modulating effects of bevacizumab (BEV). Combinations of an EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with BEV improve progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma. How BEV confers this clinical effect and the underlying mechanisms of its effect are not clear.

S100A9 MDSC and TAM-mediated EGFR-TKI resistance in lung adenocarcinoma: the role of .

Background: Monocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), particularly the S100A9+ subset, has been shown initial clinical relevance. However, its role in EGFR-mutated lung adenocarcinoma, especially to EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) is not clear. In a clinical setting of EGFR mutated lung adenocarcinoma, a role of the MDSC apart from T cell suppression was also investigated.

Protein oxidation and degradation caused by particulate matter.

Particulate matter (PM) modulates the expression of autophagy; however, the role of selective autophagy by PM remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the underlying mechanisms in protein oxidation and degradation caused by PM. Human epithelial A549 cells were exposed to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), urban dust (UD), and carbon black (CB; control particles).

Novel biomarker analysis of pleural effusion enhances differentiation of tuberculous from malignant pleural effusion.

Lymphocytic pleurisy is commonly observed in tuberculosis and cancer. Noninvasive biomarkers are needed to distinguish tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) from malignant pleural effusion (MPE) because current clinical diagnostic procedures are often invasive. We identified immune response biomarkers that can discriminate between TPE and MPE.

Particulate matter is associated with sputum culture conversion in patients with culture-positive tuberculosis.

Emerging risk factors for tuberculosis (TB) infection, such as air pollution, play a significant role at both the individual and population levels. However, the association between air pollution and TB remains unclear. The objective of this study was to examine the association between outdoor air pollution and sputum culture conversion in TB patients.

Cigarette smoke is a risk factor for severity and treatment outcome in patients with culture-positive tuberculosis.

Objective: Smoking has been associated with tuberculosis (TB); however, the effects of smoking on the effectiveness of TB treatment remain unclear.

Materials And Methods: Data were retrieved from case notes and interviews of subjects registered in the TB-reporting system from 2010 to 2012. Study cases were defined as subjects with TB-positive sputum cultures, whereas the controls were defined as subjects with non-TB-related pulmonary diseases.

Improvement in the Prediction of Ventilator Weaning Outcomes by an Artificial Neural Network in a Medical ICU.

Background: Twenty-five to 40% of patients pass a spontaneous breathing trial (SBT) but fail to wean from mechanical ventilation. There is no single appropriate and convenient predictor or method that can help clinicians to accurately predict weaning outcomes. This study designed an artificial neural network (ANN) model for predicting successful extubation in mechanically ventilated patients.

Inhaled Pharmacotherapy and Stroke Risk in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Nationwide Population Based Study Using Two-Stage Approach.

Background And Purpose: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are at higher risk of stroke than those without COPD. This study aims to explore the impact of inhaled pharmacotherapy on stroke risk in COPD patients during a three-year follow-up, using a nationwide, population-based study and a matched cohort design.

Methods: The study cohort comprised 10,413 patients who had received COPD treatment between 2004 and 2006; 41,652 randomly selected subjects comprised the comparison cohort.

Effects of non-protein-type amino acids of fine particulate matter on E-cadherin and inflammatory responses in mice.

Exposure to particulate matter less than 2.5 μm (PM2.5) in size is an urgent issue for the protection of human health.

Comparison of domiciliary oxygen using liquid oxygen and concentrator in northern Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Long-term oxygen therapy has become standard treatment for patients with chronic respiratory insufficiency. However, patterns of long-term home oxygen therapy have not been well studied in Taiwan. Oxygen concentrator systems are commonly used in Taiwan, but liquid oxygen delivery systems are portable and may provide advantages over the concentrator system.

Characterization of the interactions between protein and carbon black.

A considerable amount of studies have been conducted to investigate the interactions of biological fluids with nanoparticle surfaces, which exhibit a high affinity for proteins and particles. However, the mechanisms underlying these interactions have not been elucidated, particularly as they relate to human health. Using bovine serum albumin (BSA) and mice bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) as models for protein-particle conjugates, we characterized the physicochemical modifications of carbon blacks (CB) with 23nm or 65nm in diameter after protein treatment.

Serum protein oxidation by diesel exhaust particles: effects on oxidative stress and inflammatory response in vitro.

Considerable evidence shows a key role for protein modification in the adverse effects of chemicals; however, the interaction of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) with proteins and the resulting biological activity remains unclear. DEP and carbon black (CB) suspensions with and without bovine serum albumin (BSA) were used to elucidate the biological effects of air pollutants. The DEP and CB samples were then divided into suspensions and supernatants.

Targeting c-Myc as a novel approach for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocelluar carcinoma (HCC) is the most lethal cancer in the world. Most HCC over-express c-Myc, which plays a critical role in regulating cellular growth, differentiation and apoptosis in both normal and neoplastic cells. c-Myc is among the most frequently overexpressed genes in human cancers.

Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism contributes to recurrence of infective exacerbation in patients with COPD.

Background: Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) deficiency is associated with susceptibility to respiratory infections. We investigated the impact of MBL2 gene polymorphisms and MBL deficiency on the recurrence of infective exacerbation in patients with COPD.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted among 215 patients with COPD and 137 healthy subjects.

Mediastinal teratoma with pulmonary involvement presenting as massive hemoptysis in 2 patients.

Massive hemoptysis is described in many disease processes. However, a mediastinal teratoma is rarely considered in a patient presenting with massive hemoptysis. Since a mediastinal teratoma has no specific symptoms, its definitive diagnosis is difficult before surgical intervention.