Publications by authors named "Howard Chi-ho Yim"

Infertility is associated with the alteration of the seminal microbiome. However, the onset of dysbiosis remains controversial and the involvement of host factors remains elusive. This study investigates the alterations of the seminal microbiome in male infertility and examines the association and function of DEFB119, a reproductive-tract-specific host antimicrobial peptide, on the seminal microbiome and male fertility.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Scientists wanted to find out if germs from sperm and fluid around eggs could contaminate the liquid used to grow embryos during fertility treatments.
  • They collected samples from 61 couples and studied the germs using special techniques, discovering that 82.5% of the cases had germs from the sperm in the growing media.
  • While some germs in sperm were linked to poorer sperm health and certain germs in egg fluid were associated with female infertility, they didn’t find a link between these germs and the success of the fertility treatments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Cocaine use disorder (CUD) is a global health problem with no approved medications. One potential treatment target is the gut microbiome, but it is unknown if cocaine induces long-lasting effects on gut microbes. A novel therapeutic candidate for CUD, cannabidiol (CBD), can improve gut function in rodent models.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The study by Chen et al. has advanced research by developing predictive models based on circulating microbial DNA, offering potential for early cancer detection and personalized treatment. However, further validation and simplification of techniques are needed for widespread clinical application.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Here we investigate the function of the innate immune molecule protein kinase R (PKR) in intestinal inflammation. To model a colitogenic role of PKR, we determine the physiological response to dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) of wild-type and two transgenic mice strains mutated to express either a kinase-dead PKR or to ablate expression of the kinase. These experiments recognize kinase-dependent and -independent protection from DSS-induced weight loss and inflammation, against a kinase-dependent increase in the susceptibility to DSS-induced injury.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Recent research suggests that dysbiosis of the oral microbial community is associated with head and neck cancer (HNC). It remains unclear whether this dysbiosis causes chemo-radiotherapy (CRT)-related complications. However, to address this question, it is essential to determine the most representative oral site for microbiome sampling.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates how the gut virome (the collection of viruses in the gut) changes in mice as they develop colorectal cancer (CRC) induced by a chemical called azoxymethane (AOM).
  • The researchers observed that as the mice aged, the number and size of tumors increased, with the first tumors appearing at week 12 in the AOM group, showcasing a significant decrease in viral diversity and a shift in viral profiles at this time.
  • They identified specific viruses that are either positively or negatively associated with tumor growth, suggesting that changes in the gut virome, particularly involving bacteriophages, may play a role in the development of colorectal neoplasia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Spermatogenesis is regulated by a complex network of intercellular communication processes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are one of the important mediators in intercellular communication. Previous reports have demonstrated the involvement of EVs from the epididymis and prostate in sperm maturation and function.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • There are lots of tiny germs called microbes in our gut and mouth that usually help us, but if they get out of balance, it can lead to problems like colorectal cancer (CRC).
  • Researchers are looking into how these microbes can affect cancer treatments by either helping the medicine work better or making it less effective.
  • Some studies suggest that changing the balance of these microbes could help improve treatments for CRC, so scientists are trying to understand how to do this in a way that's best for each person.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • A study in Taiwan followed over 43,000 patients for 14 years to see if using sleep medications (sedative-hypnotics) affected their risk of getting cancer.
  • They found that patients who used these medications, whether they had insomnia or not, had a higher chance of developing certain cancers, like oral, liver, and breast cancer.
  • The researchers suggest that doctors in Taiwan should think twice before prescribing these sleep medications because they might increase the risk of cancer.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The intestinal microbes form a symbiotic relationship with their human host to harvest energy for themselves and their host and to shape the immune system of their host. However, alteration of this relationship, which is named as a dysbiosis, has been associated with the development of different inflammatory diseases and cancers. It is found that metabolites, cellular components, and virulence factors derived from the gut microbiota interact with the host locally or systemically to modulate the dysbiosis and the development of these diseases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF