Proton pump inhibitor use and the risk for Parkinson's disease: A nationwide population-based study in Taiwan.

Previous studies have shown that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, little is known about the relationship between PPIs use and Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to examine whether PPI use was associated with an increased risk of developing clinically verified PD.

Virus Elimination by Direct-Acting Antiviral Agents Impacts Glucose Homeostasis in Chronic Hepatitis C Patients.

Background And Aims: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with dysregulation of glucose homeostasis, including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes. However, independent risk factors associated with IR in chronic HCV-infected patients have not been detailly elucidated. Previous data regarding the impact of HCV elimination by direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) on glucose homeostasis is insufficient and controversial.

Direct-acting antiviral therapy of chronic hepatitis C improves liver fibrosis, assessed by histological examination and laboratory markers.

Background/purpose: Direct-acting antiviral agents achieve sustained virological response in most chronic hepatitis C patients. However, histological responses are not consistent among all patients. We conducted an observational study to analyze the histological changes after direct-acting antiviral agent therapy.

Subgroup analysis of the predictive ability of aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) for assessing hepatic fibrosis among patients with chronic hepatitis C.

Background: There are many laboratory indices to assess liver fibrosis. Aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index have been used as well-known serum markers of liver fibrosis. With the increasing use of non-invasive fibrosis assessment, it is important to recognize the limitations of these tests.

Long-term histological change in chronic hepatitis C patients who had received peginterferon plus ribavirin therapy with sustained virological response.

Background: The improvement in liver histology is an important aim in the management of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Previous studies suggest that antiviral treatment could reduce the progression of hepatic fibrosis, especially in patients with sustained virological response (SVR). However, most studies were limited by short-term evaluations and the liver stiffness was assessed by non-invasive methods.

Genotype distribution and treatment response among incarcerated drug-dependent patients with chronic hepatitis C infection.

The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is disproportionately high among prisoners, especially among those who are drug-dependent. However, current screening and treatment recommendations are inconsistent for this population, and appropriate care is not reliably provided. To address these problems, the present study aimed to identify unique characteristics and clinical manifestations of incarcerated patients with HCV infection.

Application of chronic liver failure-sequential organ failure assessment score for the predication of mortality after esophageal variceal hemorrhage post endoscopic ligation.

Background: Esophageal variceal hemorrhage (EVH) is one of the high mortality complications in cirrhotic patients. Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is currently the standard therapy for EVH. However, some patients have expired during hospitalization or survived shortly after management.

Organic Photovoltaics and Bioelectrodes Providing Electrical Stimulation for PC12 Cell Differentiation and Neurite Outgrowth.

Current bioelectronic medicines for neurological therapies generally involve treatment with a bioelectronic system comprising a power supply unit and a bioelectrode device. Further integration of wireless and self-powered units is of practical importance for implantable bioelectronics. In this study, we developed biocompatible organic photovoltaics (OPVs) for serving as wireless electrical power supply units that can be operated under illumination with near-infrared (NIR) light, and organic bioelectronic interface (OBEI) electrode devices as neural stimulation electrodes.

The genotype distribution of hepatitis C in southeastern Taiwan: Clinical characteristics, racial difference, and therapeutic response.

The genotypes of hepatitis C virus (HCV) are associated with the therapeutic response. The racial diversity of Taitung, Taiwan is heterogeneous and a distinguishing feature; how such racial differences influence the genotype distribution and treatment outcome has not been well studied. The objective of this study is to elucidate the HCV genotype distribution in southeastern Taiwan and to analyze the racial differences influencing genotypes and clinical implications.

Saline wastewater treatment by Chlorella vulgaris with simultaneous algal lipid accumulation triggered by nitrate deficiency.

Chlorella vulgaris, a marine microalgae strain adaptable to 0-50 g L(-1) of salinity, was selected for studying the coupling system of saline wastewater treatment and lipid accumulation. The effect of total nitrogen (T N) concentration was investigated on algal growth, nutrients removal as well as lipid accumulation. The removal efficiencies of TN and total phosphorus (TP) were found to be 92.

Effect of carbon source on biomass growth and nutrients removal of Scenedesmus obliquus for wastewater advanced treatment and lipid production.

The combination of tertiary wastewater treatment and microalgal lipid production is considered to be a promising approach to water eutrophication as well as energy crisis. To intensify wastewater treatment and microalgal biofuel production, the effect of organic and inorganic carbon on algal growth and nutrient removal of Scenedesmus obliquus were examined by varying TOC (total organic carbon) concentrations of 20-120mgL(-1) in wastewater and feeding CO2 concentrations in the range of 0.03-15%, respectively.

Refeeding syndrome in Southeastern Taiwan: our experience with 11 cases.

Aim: To present our experience with refeeding syndrome in southeastern Taiwan.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study during a 2-year period at the Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taitung Branch. We enrolled patients with very little or no nutrition intake for more than 10 d, a high risk group of refeeding syndrome, including those suffering from alcohol abuse, cancerous cachexia, chronic malnutrition, and prolonged starvation.

Peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin for chronic hepatitis C virus mixed genotype infection.

Background And Aim: The treatment efficacy of peginterferon plus ribavirin for patients with HCV genotype 1 is inferior to that in patients with HCV genotype 2, but the efficacy among patients with mixed HCV genotype 1 + 2 is less clear. We compared the treatment outcome of peginterferon alpha-2b plus ribavirin among naïve chronic hepatitis C patients in Taiwan with HCV genotype 1 and 2, and mixed genotype 1 + 2.

Material And Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, 150 patients were treated with peginterferon alpha-2b once weekly, plus ribavirin, for 24 weeks.

MicroRNA regulation of DNA repair gene expression in 4-aminobiphenyl-treated HepG2 cells.

We examined the role of miRNAs in DNA damage response in HepG2 cells following exposure to 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP). The arylamine 4-ABP is a human carcinogen. Using the Comet assay, we showed that 4-ABP (18.

Hepatitis C treatment outcome in relation to alcohol consumption and racial differences in southeastern Taiwan.

Background/purpose: Alcohol use may have negative impacts on hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment due to low adherence, and racial differences can influence HCV sustained virological response (SVR) rate between East Asian and European ancestry. The objective of this study is to confirm the influence of alcohol consumption and racial differences on HCV treatment outcome in aboriginal and nonaboriginal people of southeastern Taiwan.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 195 patients were treated with peginterferon-alpha once weekly plus ribavirin for 24 weeks.

Socioeconomic status, personal habits, and prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in the inhabitants of Lanyu.

Background/purpose: Lanyu Island is a closed environment inhabited by the Yami people, Taiwan's smallest and most primitive tribe. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of Helicobacter pylori infection among Lanyu Island residents.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among the inhabitants of Lanyu Island, using the (13)C urea breath test to determine the prevalence of H.

Clinical manifestations and risk factors of amebic liver abscess in Southeast Taiwan compared with other regions of Taiwan.

Amebic liver abscess (ALA) had previously been endemic in Taiwan, particularly in the southern region, although its occurrence in the southeastern area was unknown. Thus, we conducted a retrospective study for southeastern Taiwan. We identified 14 patients who were diagnosed with ALA between July of 1995 and July of 2008.

Application of memberane dispersion for enhanced lipid milking from Botryococcus braunii FACHB 357.

To improve the mixing efficiency in an aqueous-tetradecane system and thus to increase the lipid milking efficiency, poly (ether sulfones) hollow fiber membrane was applied as dispersion medium to establish an in situ lipid extraction process from Botryococcus braunii FACHB 357. The lipid location of this microalga was characterized by fluorescence microscope and transmission electron microscopy, respectively. The results showed that B.

Evaluation of FT-IR and Nile Red methods for microalgal lipid characterization and biomass composition determination.

To characterize lipid content of microalgal cells rapidly and accurately, the gravimetric determination, FT-IR and Nile Red (NR) staining were investigated on six typical eukaryotic and prokaryotic algae species. FT-IR and Nile Red were relative quantification methods and a standard curve was required in contrast to the gravimetric method. The FT-IR method determined the lipid, carbohydrate and protein contents simultaneously assuming that the algal cells only consisted of those three components.

Cell surface display of carbonic anhydrase on Escherichia coli using ice nucleation protein for COâ‚‚ sequestration.

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) has recently gained renewed interests for its potential as a mass-transfer facilitator for CO(2) sequestration. However, the low stability and high price severely limit its applications. In this work, the expression of α-CA from Helicobacter pylori on the outer membrane of Escherichia coli using a surface-anchoring system derived from ice nucleation protein (INP) from Pseudomonas syringae was developed.

Mechanism of lipid extraction from Botryococcus braunii FACHB 357 in a biphasic bioreactor.

Algal lipid of Botryococcus braunii could be produced continuously and in situ extracted in an aqueous-organic bioreactor. In this study, the cell ultra-structure and cell membrane permeability of B. braunii FACHB 357 were investigated to understand the mechanism of lipid extraction within the biphasic system.

Efficacy of a novel endotoxin adsorber polyvinylidene fluoride fiber immobilized with (L)-serine ligand on septic pigs.

A novel adsorber, polyvinylidene fluoride matrix immobilized with L-serine ligand (PVDF-Ser), was developed in the present study to evaluate its safety and therapeutic efficacy in septic pigs by extracorporeal hemoperfusion. Endotoxin adsorption efficiency (EAE) of the adsorber was firstly measured in vitro. The biocompatibility and hemodynamic changes during extracorporeal circulation were then evaluated.