Association of acid-suppressive therapy and tuberculosis: A causal or coincidental link to the infection?

Background: Acid-suppressant proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) and histamine-2-receptor antagonists (H2RA) are associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB). However, it remains unclear whether this association is causal or coincidental.

Methods: Patients newly diagnosed with TB between 2000 and 2013 were identified from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database.

GG as dietary supplement improved survival from lipopolysaccharides-induced sepsis in mice.

Sepsis is a state of host immune response triggered by virus or bacterial infection, in which the extent of regional and systemic inflammation and companion counter-inflammatory reactions determines disease outcomes. Probiotics are known for the immunomodulatory effect on allergic disorders, but it is not clear whether the beneficiary effect extends to sepsis and increases survival. In this mouse model, we injected intraperitoneally lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to induce sepsis, and investigated whether the pretreatment of GG (LGG) contributed to host survival and examined the alteration of the gut microbiota and blood cytokines/chemokines profile before sepsis induction.

Interleukin-27, a novel cytokine induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat hearts, mediates cardioprotective effects via the gp130/STAT3 pathway.

Patients with coronary artery disease show high serum levels of interleukin (IL)-27, a novel member of the IL-6 family. However, the function of IL-27 in hearts suffering ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury is unclear. Here, we showed increased expression of mRNA for the IL-27 subunits, EBI3 and p28, in rat hearts after 40 min of coronary ligation and release for 7 days.

Flavonoids from Gynostemma pentaphyllum exhibit differential induction of cell cycle arrest in H460 and A549 cancer cells.

Flavonoids, containing mainly kaempferol rhamnohexoside derivatives, were extracted from Gynostemma pentaphyllum (G. pentaphyllum) and their potential growth inhibition effects against H460 non-small cell lung cancer cells was explored and compared to that on A549 cells. The extracted flavonoids were found to exhibit antiproliferation effects against H460 cells (IC50 = 50.

Diagnostic role of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and effector molecules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes in tuberculous pleural effusion.

Background And Objective: Early diagnosis of tuberculous pleural effusion (TPE) remains difficult. While some inflammatory markers in pleural effusion (PE) are helpful in diagnosis, the roles of anti-inflammatory cytokines and effector molecules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes have not been investigated.

Methods: Lymphocyte-predominant exudative PE samples were assayed for inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and effector molecules of cytotoxic T lymphocytes.

Cefepime therapy for monomicrobial bacteremia caused by cefepime-susceptible extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae: MIC matters.

Background: Extended-spectrum ß-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates are important clinical pathogens. In addition, the efficacy of cefepime for such infections is controversial.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of monomicrobial bacteremia caused by ESBL producers at 2 medical centers between May 2002 and August 2007.

Aggregatibacter aphrophilus pyogenic liver abscess in an immunocompetent young woman.

Aggregatibacter aphrophilus (formerly Haemophilus aphrophilus/paraphrophilus) is a small Gram-negative coccobacillus with fastidious growth requirements. It is a normal commensal of the human oropharynx and upper respiratory tract, and it can infrequently cause invasive human diseases, including bone and joint infections and subacute infective endocarditis. Cases of liver abscess caused by Aggregatibacter aphrophilus have been sparsely recorded in the English-language literature, but have not yet been reported in Taiwan.

Laboratory identification, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of patients with bacteremia due to Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae producing extended-spectrum and AmpC type β-lactamases.

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria coexpressing AmpC type β-lactamase (ACBL) are associated with the laboratory issue of false susceptibility to third-generation cephalosporins. This study was to evaluate laboratory tests and clinical significance of bacteremic isolates of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae with both ESBL and ACBL [dual-type lactamases (DTL)].

Methods: From 2006 to 2009, 78 E coli and 12 pneumoniae bacteremic isolates with reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime (CTX) or ceftazidime (CAZ) were identified and relevant patients' data were collected for analysis.

Bactericidal activity of soymilk fermentation broth by in vitro and animal models.

Soybean fermentation broth (SFB) exhibits potent antibacterial activity against different species of bacteria in in vitro assays and animal models. Four isoflavone compounds-daidzin, genistin, genistein, and daidzein-of SFB were analyzed and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. In the in vitro test, daidzin and daidzein had more potent antibacterial activity than genistin.

Carbapenem therapy for bacteremia due to extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae: implications of ertapenem susceptibility.

A retrospective study was conducted at two medical centers in Taiwan to evaluate the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors for mortality among patients treated with a carbapenem for bacteremia caused by extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organisms. A total of 251 patients with bacteremia caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates treated by a carbapenem were identified. Among these ESBL-producing isolates, rates of susceptibility to ertapenem (MICs ≤ 0.

The utility and limitation of single nucleotide polymorphism analysis on whole genome amplified mesenchymal tumour DNA in formalin fixed tumour samples.

Aims: In the study of tumour genetics, formalin fixed, paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumours are the most readily available tissue samples and DNA derived from FFPE tissue has been validated for array comparative genomic hybridisation (aCGH) and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array analysis. Furthermore, in the study of tumour precursor genetics, whole genome amplification (WGA) has been used to produce a sufficient amount of DNA for aCGH. However, it is unclear whether the same approach can be extended to high-resolution SNP analysis.

Clinical characteristics of urosepsis caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumonia and their emergence in the community.

Background: The purpose of this study is to delineate clinical characteristics of urosepsis caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-EK) in different clinical settings, with an emphasis on community-acquired infections.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted at two medical centers in Taiwan. From May 2002 to August 2007, clinical data of adults with urosepsis caused by ESBL-EK were collected.

Serotypes, surface proteins, and clinical syndromes of invasive Group B streptococcal infections in northern Taiwan, 1998-2009.

Background: The incidence of invasive Group B streptococcal (GBS) infections is increasing in the elderly and immunocompromised adults in many countries worldwide. There are, however, few reports regarding the current status of the infection in northern Taiwan. This study investigated retrospectively the molecular epidemiology and clinical syndromes of the invasive GBS diseases in a tertiary care hospital in northern Taiwan over the past decade.

Clinical manifestations and prognostic factors in cancer patients with bacteremia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Background: Clinical information about bacteremia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens in cancer patients was limited. The study was aimed to identify the clinical manifestations and risk factors for mortality in ESBL-producer bacteremia in cancer patients.

Methods: A retrospective study of bacteremia caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae in adults with cancer in National Cheng Kung University Hospital and National Taiwan University Hospital from July 2002 to August 2007 was conducted.

Carbapenem therapy for bacteremia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae.

For 244 patients with bacteremia due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli or Klebsiella pneumoniae treated by ertapenem (73, 29.9%) or either imipenem or meropenem (171, 70.1%), the therapeutic efficacy was evaluated.