Targeting the Galectin-1/Ras Interaction for Treating Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common inherited neurological disorder that can lead to the development of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), a highly aggressive form of sarcoma. Current treatment options for MPNSTs are limited, with poor prognosis and high recurrence rates. This study aims to explore the potential of targeting the Galectin-1 (Gal-1) and Ras interaction as a novel therapeutic strategy for MPNSTs.

Essential oil from Citrus depressa peel exhibits antimicrobial, antioxidant and cancer chemopreventive effects.

Background: Many diseases may be caused by pathogens and oxidative stress resulting from carcinogens. Earlier studies have highlighted the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of plant essential oils (EO). It is crucial to effectively utilize agricultural waste to achieve a sustainable agricultural economy and protect the environment.

Community-Based Digital Contact Tracing of Emerging Infectious Diseases: Design and Implementation Study With Empirical COVID-19 Cases.

Background: Contact tracing for containing emerging infectious diseases such as COVID-19 is resource intensive and requires digital transformation to enable timely decision-making.

Objective: This study demonstrates the design and implementation of digital contact tracing using multimodal health informatics to efficiently collect personal information and contain community outbreaks. The implementation of digital contact tracing was further illustrated by 3 empirical SARS-CoV-2 infection clusters.

Chemoprevention of lotus leaf ethanolic extract through epigenetic activation of the NRF2-mediated pathway in murine skin JB6 P+ cell neoplastic transformation.

Background And Aim: Skin is one barrier protecting from environmental risk factors that can make skin cells cancerous through DNA damage and oxidative stress. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) pathway is an anti-stress defense system that can be regulated by DNA methylation and histone modification. Dietary phytochemicals have chemopreventive properties that can inhibit or delay carcinogenesis.

Genetic Characteristics of Measles Viruses Isolated in Taiwan between 2015 and 2020.

A genetic analysis of circulating measles virus (MeV) provides strong evidence of an interruption in endemic measles and supports the elimination status of this disease. This study investigated 219 MeVs isolated between 2015 and 2020. Based on the 450 nucleotide sequences of the nucleoprotein gene (N-450), three genotypes of the H1, D8 and B3 with 8, 18 and 6 different N-450 sequences, respectively, were identified.

Evaluation of a new-formula shampoo containing 6% glycyrrhetinic acid complex for scalp seborrheic dermatitis: A pilot study.

Background: Scalp seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis associated with sebum imbalance and proliferation of Malassezia species. Various antifungal shampoos are commonly used for scalp SD.

Aims: Glycyrrhetinic acid is known to have antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-allergic effects.

Immunosuppressive Roles of Galectin-1 in the Tumor Microenvironment.

Evasion of immune surveillance is an accepted hallmark of tumor progression. The production of immune suppressive mediators by tumor cells is one of the major mechanisms of tumor immune escape. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), a pivotal immunosuppressive molecule, is expressed by many types of cancer.

Glypican-3: A molecular marker for the detection and treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a malignant tumor with a fairly poor prognosis (5-year survival of less than 50%). Using sorafenib, the only food and drug administration (FDA)-approved drug, HCC cannot be effectively treated; it can only be controlled at most for a couple of months. There is a great need to develop efficacious treatment against this debilitating disease.

An epidemic surge of influenza A(H3N2) virus at the end of the 2016-2017 season in Taiwan with an increased viral genetic heterogeneity.

Background: The epidemic of the 2016-2017 influenza season in Taiwan started early with moderate activity and was predominated by the influenza A(H3N2) virus. However, the influenza activity increased dramatically during the late stage of the 2016-2017 season.

Objectives: The genetic and antigenic characteristics of the influenza A(H3N2) virus circulating in Taiwan during the 2016-2017 season were investigated.

Diallyl trisulfide inhibits cell migration and invasion of human melanoma a375 cells via inhibiting integrin/facal adhesion kinase pathway.

Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease due to its propensity for metastasis. Studies have shown that integrin-mediated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signal pathway is implicated in cell proliferation, survival and metastasis of tumor cells. Our previous results indicated that diallyl trisulfide (DATS) provided its antimelanoma activity via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.

Surveillance of upper respiratory infections using a new multiplex PCR assay compared to conventional methods during the influenza season in Taiwan.

Objectives: To improve diagnosis as part of laboratory surveillance in Taiwan, influenza-like illness (ILI) surveillance was conducted using a new multiplex PCR assay (FilmArray) and the results compared to those of conventional methods The study was performed during the winter months.

Methods: Throat swabs from patients with an ILI presenting to physicians in sentinel practices were collected during the 2016-2017 influenza season.

Results: A total of 52 samples tested positive by FilmArray Respiratory Panel.

Measles surveillance in Taiwan, 2012-2014: Changing epidemiology, immune response, and circulating genotypes.

In Taiwan, although the coverage rate of two doses of measles-containing vaccine has been maintained at over 95% since 2001, measles outbreaks occurred in 2002, 2009, and 2011. The present study reports that 43 cases were confirmed by laboratory testing in Taiwan in 2012-2014 and that adults have emerged as one of groups susceptible to measles virus (MV) infection, who may have discrepant humoral immune reactions--indicated by the level of IgM and IgG antibodies compared to a naïve, susceptible measles case. Thirty-seven of 43 cases confirmed by RT-PCR were further characterized by genotyping.

Molecular epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of influenza B-associated complications among hospitalized patients during an outbreak in Taiwan.

Objectives: To study the resurgence of influenza B/Yam in Taiwan and summarize clinical findings of influenza B-associated complications among hospitalized patients, in particular the link between clinical and molecular epidemiologic characteristics.

Methods: Clinical information and isolates were collected through the national surveillance system of the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. Potential risk factors associated with severe illness were analyzed.

Molecular epidemiology of measles virus in Taiwan in 2010-2011: the common genotype changed from H1 to D9 and the first appearance of D4.

Measles has been controlled effectively in some countries because of high coverage rates with an effective vaccine. However, measles outbreaks still occasionally occur in areas with high vaccine coverage as a result of imported transmission. To identify the sources of measles infection and to determine whether measles cases are part of a single outbreak or due to multiple importations, measles virus (MV) genotyping is required and plays an important role in MV elimination.

Molecular mechanisms of garlic-derived allyl sulfides in the inhibition of skin cancer progression.

Skin cancer is a serious concern whose incidence is increasing at an alarming rate. Allyl sulfides-i.e.

Diallyl trisulfide induces apoptosis of human basal cell carcinoma cells via endoplasmic reticulum stress and the mitochondrial pathway.

Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), an active component of garlic oil, has attracted much attention because of its anticancer effect on several types of cancers. However, the mechanism of DATS-induced apoptosis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is not fully understood. In the present study, we revealed that DATS-mediated dose-dependent induction of apoptosis in BCC cells was associated with intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation and disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential.

Allyl sulfides inhibit cell growth of skin cancer cells through induction of DNA damage mediated G2/M arrest and apoptosis.

Diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), and diallyl trisulfide (DATS), extracted from crushed garlic by steam-distillation, have been reported to provide the anticancer activity in several cancer types. However, their mechanisms of effects on skin cancer cells remain unclear. Therefore, we used human melanoma A375 cells and basal cell carcinoma cells as the models to elucidate the effects of these three allyl sulfides.