First detection of the S989P+V1016G+D1763Y haplotype and expansion of voltage-gated sodium channel mutations in Aedes aegypti in Taiwan in 2016-2023.

Background: Aedes aegypti transmits various arthropod-borne diseases such as dengue, posing a significant burden to public health in tropical and subtropical regions. Pyrethroid-based control strategies are effective in managing this vector; however, the development of insecticide resistance has hindered these efforts. Hence, long-term monitoring of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations is crucial for effective vector and disease control.

The Efficacy of Orange Terpene and Strain BM103 on the Control of Periwinkle Leaf Yellowing Phytoplasma.

Phytoplasmas are obligate phytopathogenic bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes. The pathogens, transmitted by insect vectors, associated with hundreds of plant diseases worldwide. Due to the regulation on banning use of antibiotics and limited efficacy of the traditional disease management manners, an eco-friendly alternative is needed.

First Report of ' Phytoplasma asteris'-related Strain (16SrI group) Associated with Small Leaves, Leaf Yellowing, and Shoot Proliferation of Morning Glory () in Taiwan.

Ipomoea biflora L., commonly known as morning glory, is an herbaceous vine plant in the Convolvulaceae family and is widespread at low elevations in Taiwan and other East Asian countries. In September 2023, six I.

Wearable Ultrasound Imaging Device for Dynamic Dual-Direction Shear Wave Elastography of Shoulder Muscle.

The shoulder is the most mobile joint in the human body, thus requiring intricate coordination of adjacent muscles. Patients suffered from rotator cuff muscle injuries have several typical symptoms including shoulder pain and difficulty raising the arm, thus reducing work efficiency and compromising the quality of life. Ultrasound has been used widely for shoulder soft tissue imaging as well as ultrasound elastography was introduced in shoulder examination for the dilemma of treating degenerative rotator cuff tears.

outer membrane vesicles as a novel vaccine candidate against infection: insights into immune response and potential for passive immunity.

, a Gram-negative pathogen, causes infections such as bacteraemia, pneumonia, and neonatal meningitis. The pathogen resists most antimicrobial classes, making novel approaches urgently needed. In natural settings, Gram-negative bacteria secrete outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) that carry important molecules in the bacterial life cycle.

activities of antimicrobial combinations against planktonic and biofilm forms of .

Objectives: To investigate the activity of antibiotic combinations against isolates and their associated biofilms.

Methods: Thirty-two clinical isolates with at least twenty-five different pulsotypes were tested. The antibacterial activity of various antibiotic combinations against seven randomly selected planktonic and biofilm-embedded strains with strong biofilm formation was assessed using broth methods.

Clinical impacts of the rapid diagnostic method on positive blood cultures.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of short-term incubation (STI) protocol on clinical outcomes of bloodstream infection (BSI) patients.

Methods: A total of 1363 positive blood culture records from January 2019 to December 2021 were included. The main clinical outcomes included pathogen identification turnaround time (TAT), antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) TAT, and length of total hospital stay.

COVID-19 associated mold infections: Review of COVID-19 associated pulmonary aspergillosis and mucormycosis.

COVID-19-associated mold infection (CAMI) is defined as development of mold infections in COVID-19 patients. Co-pathogenesis of viral and fungal infections include the disruption of tissue barrier following SARS CoV-2 infection with the damage in the alveolar space, respiratory epithelium and endothelium injury and overwhelming inflammation and immune dysregulation during severe COVID-19. Other predisposing risk factors permissive to fungal infections during COVID-19 include the administration of immune modulators such as corticosteroids and IL-6 antagonist.

Recommendations and guidelines for the diagnosis and management of Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) associated bacterial and fungal infections in Taiwan.

Coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is an emerging infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 that has rapidly evolved into a pandemic to cause over 600 million infections and more than 6.6 million deaths up to Nov 25, 2022. COVID-19 carries a high mortality rate in severe cases.

The effect of with prebiotics on KPC-2-producing .

Objectives: This study investigated the inhibitory effect of spp. with prebiotics against carbapenemase-2 (KPC-2)-producing using both experiments and animal models.

Methods: Thirty-three spp.

Molecular characteristics and in vitro effects of antimicrobial combinations on planktonic and biofilm forms of Elizabethkingia anophelis.

Objectives: To investigate the in vitro activity of antibiotics against clinical Elizabethkingia anophelis isolates and to find a suitable antibiotic combination with synergistic effects to combat antibiotic-resistant E. anophelis and its associated biofilm.

Methods: E.

Site-specific mortality in native joint septic arthritis: a national population study.

Objective: This national cohort study investigated the incidence, site-specific mortality and prognostic factors of native septic arthritis (SA).

Methods: Tapping Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, we identified inpatients with newly diagnosed SA between 1998 and 2012. They were categorized by site of infection and followed to calculate 30-day, 90-day and 1-year mortality.

Warning signs and severe dengue in end stage renal disease dialysis patients.

Background/purpose: The 2009 WHO guideline established warning signs (WS) to predict severe dengue (SD). However, their positive predictive value has been found to be low in the general adult population, but they might be higher in a different population. This study investigated the association between WS and SD in end stage renal disease (ESRD) patients on maintenance dialysis in Taiwan where both diseases are prevalent.

The Potential Role of Sulbactam and Cephalosporins Plus Daptomycin Against Daptomycin-Nonsusceptible VISA and H-VISA Isolates: An in Vitro Study.

This study assesses the synergistic effect of the combination of cephalosporins and sulbactam with daptomycin against daptomycin-nonsusceptible, vancomycin-intermediate resistant (VISA) or heterogeneous vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (h-VISA) isolates. The in vitro activity of daptomycin against daptomycin-nonsusceptible VISA/h-VISA isolates after adding cephalosporins with or without sulbactam was evaluated.

Simultaneous three Enterobacteriaceae with different -encoding plasmids in a patient transferred from mainland China to Taiwan.

New-Delhi metallo-β-lactamase1 (NDM-1) are increasing worldwide. Herein, we describe a single patient who carried three unusual NDM-1 carbapenem-resistant yielded from a urine specimen and and from stool specimens. For , its NDM-1-encoding plasmid was pKP04NDM with a size of ~54 kb replicons with an IncN backbone.

Cephalosporin-Glycopeptide Combinations for Use against Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Isolates: Enhanced Antibacterial Activity.

The empirical combination of both a beta-lactam and glycopeptide to counter potential staphylococcal pathogens may improve the clinical outcomes for cases of bacteremia. We reported comparative studies of combination effects of different cephalosporins (i.e.

Epidemiology and outcome of acute pancreatitis in end-stage renal disease dialysis patients: a 10-year national cohort study.

Background: The objective of this study is to determine the incidence and severity of acute pancreatitis (AP) in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on dialysis and whether the dialysis modality [hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD)] confers a higher risk for AP as well as complications or mortality related to AP.

Methods: We analyzed national health insurance claims data of 67 078 ESRD patients initiating dialysis between 1999 and 2007 in Taiwan. All patients were followed up from the start of their dialysis to first AP diagnosis, death, end of dialysis or 31 December 2008.

Effects of a new industrial lifting belt on back muscular activity, hand force, and body stability during symmetric lifting.

This work investigated how wearing a new design of back belt affects erector spinae activity, hand force, and body stability. The belt was first tested with static holding tasks and found to significantly decrease the back muscle activity. Actual lifting tasks were further carried out to test the effect of the belt.