MS-20 enhances the gut microbiota-associated antitumor effects of anti-PD1 antibody.

Cancer immunotherapy has been regarded as a promising strategy for cancer therapy by blocking immune checkpoints and evoking immunity to fight cancer, but its efficacy seems to be heterogeneous among patients. Manipulating the gut microbiota is a potential strategy for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy. Here, we report that MS-20, also known as "Symbiota®", a postbiotic that comprises abundant microbial metabolites generated from a soybean-based medium fermented with multiple strains of probiotics and yeast, inhibited colon and lung cancer growth in combination with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (PD1) antibody in xenograft mouse models.

Self-Supervised Learning-Based General Laboratory Progress Pretrained Model for Cardiovascular Event Detection.

Objective: Leveraging patient data through machine learning techniques in disease care offers a multitude of substantial benefits. Nonetheless, the inherent nature of patient data poses several challenges. Prevalent cases amass substantial longitudinal data owing to their patient volume and consistent follow-ups, however, longitudinal laboratory data are renowned for their irregularity, temporality, absenteeism, and sparsity; In contrast, recruitment for rare or specific cases is often constrained due to their limited patient size and episodic observations.

Molecular and Phenotypic Characterization of Ocular Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis Isolates in Taiwan.

Purpose: Staphylococcus epidermidis, a commensal, has emerged as an important opportunistic pathogen, particularly methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE). The mechanism behind this transformation remains unclear.

Ocular Manifestations and Outcomes in Children With Stevens-Johnson Syndrome and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis: A Comparison With Adult Patients.

Purpose: To compare the clinical features and visual outcomes in children and adults with Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN).

Design: Retrospective comparative case series.

Methods: This retrospective study included 280 eyes of 140 patients (35 children and 105 adults) with SJS/TEN treated between 2010 and 2020.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Ocular Infection in Taiwan: Potential Role of Panton-Valentine Leukocidin Gene.

Purpose: The relationship between Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), a major virulence factor of Staphylococcus aureus, and disease severity and clinical outcomes remains unclear. We investigated the molecular characteristics and role of the PVL gene in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ocular infection in Taiwan.

Production of Modified Autologous Conditioned Serum and Ex Vivo Assessment of Its Healing Potential in Murine Corneal Epithelium.

Human blood-derived topical therapies have been a boon to clinicians in recent decades. Autologous serum (AS) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) are enriched in epitheliotropic growth factors that are essential in corneal wound healing. Unlike AS, PRP is based on a differential centrifugation system, yielding more platelet-derived growth factors.

Application of a deep learning system in glaucoma screening and further classification with colour fundus photographs: a case control study.

Background: To verify efficacy of automatic screening and classification of glaucoma with deep learning system.

Methods: A cross-sectional, retrospective study in a tertiary referral hospital. Patients with healthy optic disc, high-tension, or normal-tension glaucoma were enrolled.

Keratitis in Taiwan: Genotyping, Antibiotic Susceptibility, and Clinical Features.

is an important pathogen for keratitis, a vision-threatening disease. We aimed to investigate the genotyping, antibiotic susceptibility, and clinical features of keratitis, and to explore the possible role of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), a major virulence factor of We recruited 49 patients with culture-proven keratitis between 2013 and 2017 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan. PVL gene, multilocus sequence type (MLST), staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC), and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed.

Keratitis in Taiwan: Molecular Identification, Antifungal Susceptibilities, and Clinical Features.

We performed molecular identification and antifungal susceptibilities of pathogens and investigated clinical features of 43 culture-proven keratitis cases from 2015-2020 in Taiwan. The pathogens were identified by sequencing of their internal transcribed spacer regions of ribosomal DNA and translation elongation factor 1α gene; their antifungal susceptibilities (to seven agents) were determined by broth microdilution method. We also collected clinical data to compare the drug susceptibilities and clinical features of species complex (FSSC) isolates with those of other species complexes (non-FSSC).

Ex Vivo and In Vivo Animal Models for Mechanical and Chemical Injuries of Corneal Epithelium.

Corneal injury to the ocular surface, including chemical burn and trauma, may cause severe scarring, symblepharon, corneal limbal stem cells deficiency, and result in a large, persistent corneal epithelial defect. Epithelial defect with the following corneal opacity and peripheral neovascularization result in irreversible visual impairment and hinder future management, especially keratoplasty. Since the animal model can be used as an effective drug development platform, models of corneal injury to the mouse and alkali burn to rabbit corneal epithelium are developed here.

Application of a Deep Learning System in Pterygium Grading and Further Prediction of Recurrence with Slit Lamp Photographs.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a deep learning system in pterygium grading and recurrence prediction.

Methods: This was a single center, retrospective study. Slit-lamp photographs, from patients with or without pterygium, were collected to develop an algorithm.

Clinical Features and Molecular Characteristics of Methicillin-Susceptible Ocular Infection in Taiwan.

This study analyzed the clinical features and molecular characteristics of methicillin-susceptible (MSSA) ocular infections in Taiwan and compared them between community-associated (CA) and health-care-associated (HA) infections. We collected ocular isolates from patients at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital between 2010 and 2017. The infections were classified as CA or HA using epidemiological criteria, and the isolates were molecularly characterized using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, multilocus sequence typing, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene detection.

Clinical characteristics and topographic findings of corneal ectasia in patients with symptomatic blepharitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to present characteristics and topographic findings of patients with corneal ectasia and symptomatic ocular demodicosis.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective, noncomparative study. Twenty-one patients with symptomatic ocular demodicosis and corneal ectasia since 2017 to 2019 were enrolled.

Potential Role and Significance of Ocular Demodicosis in Patients with Concomitant Refractory Herpetic Keratitis.

Purpose: To evaluate the role of Demodex infestation of the eyelids in patients with recurrent herpetic keratitis.

Patients And Methods: This is a retrospective and noncomparative case series. Twenty-seven patients with ocular demodicosis and recurrent herpetic keratitis under conventional treatments were enrolled.

Clinical appearance and pathological findings of conjunctival myxoma: Case report and literature review.

Purpose: To describe a case with a growing erythematous conjunctival mass in the left eye, diagnosed as conjunctival myxoma.

Observations: A 31-year-old lady had corrected visual acuity of 6/7.5 and normal intraocular pressure in both eyes.

Liposomal dexamethasone-moxifloxacin nanoparticle combinations with collagen/gelatin/alginate hydrogel for corneal infection treatment and wound healing.

Infectious keratitis is still one of the major causes of visual impairment and blindness, often affecting developing countries. Eye-drop therapy to reduce disease progression is the first line of treatment for infectious keratitis. The current limitations in controlling ophthalmic infections include rapid precorneal drug loss and the inability to provide long-term extraocular drug delivery.

Clinical demographics of pterygium excision and prevalence of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia: a 15-year review.

Purpose: To find clinical demographics of pterygium surgery and prevalence of conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) in pterygium specimen.

Methods: This is a retrospective, institutional study. The records of patients who had received pterygium excision from 2000 to 2014 were reviewed.

HLA-B27-mediated activation of TNAP phosphatase promotes pathogenic syndesmophyte formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of axial inflammation. Over time, some patients develop spinal ankylosis and permanent disability; however, current treatment strategies cannot arrest syndesmophyte formation completely. Here, we used mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from AS patients (AS MSCs) within the enthesis involved in spinal ankylosis to delineate that the HLA-B27-mediated spliced X-box-binding protein 1 (sXBP1)/retinoic acid receptor-β (RARB)/tissue-nonspecific alkaline phosphatase (TNAP) axis accelerated the mineralization of AS MSCs, which was independent of Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2).

Blimp-1 Contributes to the Development and Function of Regulatory B Cells.

Regulatory B cells (Bregs) are a B cell subset that plays a suppressive role in immune responses. The CD19CD1dCD5 Bregs that can execute regulatory functions via secreting IL-10 are defined as B10 cells. Bregs suppress autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, whereas they exacerbate infectious diseases caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites.

Regulatory mechanisms of B cell responses and the implication in B cell-related diseases.

Terminally differentiated B cell, the plasma cell, is the sole cell type capable of producing antibodies in our body. Over the past 30 years, the identification of many key molecules controlling B cell activation and differentiation has elucidated the molecular pathways for generating antibody-producing plasma cells. Several types of regulation modulating the functions of the important key molecules in B cell activation and differentiation add other layers of complexity in shaping B cell responses following antigen exposure in the absence or presence of T cell help.

The KDM4A/KDM4C/NF-κB and WDR5 epigenetic cascade regulates the activation of B cells.

T follicular helper (Tfh) cell-derived signals promote activation and proliferation of antigen-primed B cells. It remains unclear whether epigenetic regulation is involved in the B cell responses to Tfh cell-derived signals. Here, we demonstrate that Tfh cell-mimicking signals induce the expression of histone demethylases KDM4A and KDM4C, and the concomitant global down-regulation of their substrates, H3K9me3/me2, in B cells.

O-GlcNAcylation is required for B cell homeostasis and antibody responses.

O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) transferase (Ogt) catalyzes O-GlcNAc modification. O-GlcNAcylation is increased after cross-linking of the B-cell receptor (BCR), but the physiological function of this reaction is unknown. Here we show that lack of Ogt in B-cell development not only causes severe defects in the activation of BCR signaling, but also perturbs B-cell homeostasis by enhancing apoptosis of mature B cells, partly as a result of impaired response to B-cell activating factor.

Efficient Generation of Chemically Induced Mesenchymal Stem Cells from Human Dermal Fibroblasts.

Human mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent and currently undergoing hundreds of clinical trials for disease treatments. To date, no studies have generated induced MSCs from skin fibroblasts with chemicals or growth factors. Here, we established the first chemical method to convert primary human dermal fibroblasts into multipotent, induced MSC-like cells (iMSCs).

Laminin modification subretinal bio-scaffold remodels retinal pigment epithelium-driven microenvironment in vitro and in vivo.

Advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may lead to geographic atrophy or fibrovascular scar at macular, dysfunctional retinal microenvironment, and cause profound visual loss. Recent clinical trials have implied the potential application of pluripotent cell-differentiated retinal pigment epithelial cells (dRPEs) and membranous scaffolds implantation in repairing the degenerated retina in AMD. However, the efficacy of implanted membrane in immobilization and supporting the viability and functions of dRPEs, as well as maintaining the retinal microenvironment is still unclear.

Uncovering MicroRNA Regulatory Hubs that Modulate Plasma Cell Differentiation.

Using genome-wide approaches, we studied the microRNA (miRNA) expression profile during human plasma cell (PC) differentiation induced by stimulation of human blood B cells with T follicular helper cell-dependent signals. Combining the profiles of differentially expressed genes in PC differentiation with gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that a significant group of genes involved in the transcription factor (TF) activity was preferentially changed. We thus focused on studying the effects of differentially expressed miRNAs on several key TFs in PC differentiation.