Lactobacillus pentosus strain LPS16 produces lactic acid, inhibiting multidrug-resistant Helicobacter pylori.

Background/purpose: Helicobacter pylori is a human gastric pathogen. Antibiotic resistance of H. pylori has become a problem increasing the failure of H.

Early identification of microorganisms in blood culture prior to the detection of a positive signal in the BACTEC FX system using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry.

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a valuable method for rapid identification of blood stream infection (BSI) pathogens. Integration of MALDI-TOF MS and blood culture system can speed the identification of causative BSI microorganisms.

Materials And Methods: We investigated the minimal microorganism concentrations of common BSI pathogens required for positive blood culture using BACTEC FX and for positive identification using MALDI-TOF MS.

High expression of patched homolog-1 messenger RNA and glioma-associated oncogene-1 messenger RNA of sonic hedgehog signaling pathway indicates a risk of postresection recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has a high recurrence rate after resection. Abnormal activation of the sonic hedgehog (SHH) signaling pathway contributing to the carcinogenesis of some organs had been reported. We hypothesize that activation of SHH pathway contributes to the recurrence of HCC after surgical resection.

Emergence of uncommon emm types of Streptococcus pyogenes among adult patients in southern Taiwan.

Background: Streptococcus pyogenes isolated from adult patients during a 12-year period in southern Taiwan were analyzed to estimate the distribution of emm types and their correlation with disease manifestations and patient age.

Methods: Three hundred thirty-four invasive and noninvasive isolates collected from patients older than 20 years between 1997 and 2008 at National Cheng Kung University Hospital were included for emm typing. A correlation between emm type, disease manifestations, and patient ages was analyzed.