Mitochondrial and tRNA Gene Variants Associated with Risk and Prognosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) has been associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. We investigated whether mitochondrial DNA variants in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), which affect proteins of the respiratory chain and mitochondrial function, could be associated with an increased risk and poor prognosis of IPF. From 2020 to 2022, we recruited 36 patients (age: 75.

Characteristics and local risk factors of community-acquired and health-care-associated Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia.

This study aims at identifying characteristics, risk factors and mortality of community-acquired (CAP) and health-care-associated pneumonia (HCAP) by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). We retrieved adults with S.

High-flow nasal cannula improves respiratory impedance evaluated by impulse oscillometry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Non-pharmacological treatment with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) may play a vital role in treatment of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To evaluate the efficacy of HFNC, impulse oscillation system (IOS) is a new noninvasive technique in measuring the impedance of different portions of lungs. It shows higher sensitivity in contrast to conventional pulmonary function tests (PFT).

A Critical Review of Smart Residential Environments for Older Adults With a Focus on Pleasurable Experience.

Various smart services and technologies have been developed to support older adults' well-ness, make their daily tasks easier, and enhance their overall quality of life. When people grow older, older adults inevitably experience a significant decrease in their physical, cognitive, and sensory capabilities, which makes them develop negative attitudes toward technology. In this regard, this study highlights that older adults require not only usable and practical spaces but also smart residential environments that can fulfill them emotionally.

Mitochondrial DNA Variants in Patients with Liver Injury Due to Anti-Tuberculosis Drugs.

Background: Hepatotoxicity is the most severe adverse effect of anti-tuberculosis therapy. Isoniazid's metabolite hydrazine is a mitochondrial complex II inhibitor. We hypothesized that mitochondrial DNA variants are risk factors for drug-induced liver injury (DILI) due to isoniazid, rifampicin or pyrazinamide.

Clinical impact of using fluoroquinolone with low antimycobacterial activity on treatment delay in tuberculosis: Hospital-based and population-based cohort study.

Background/purpose: Little remains known regarding whether newer FQ with less anti-mycobacterial activity (gemifloxacin) would reduce treatment delay.

Methods: We identified one hospital-based cohort (HBC) and one population-based cohort (PBC) including patients receiving amoxicillin/clavulanate acid (Beta-lactam), gemifloxacin (Gemi), and fluoroquinolones other than gemifloxacin (Non-Gemi FQ) prior to TB treatment.

Results: A total of 201 patients in the HBC and 3544 patients in the PBC were recruited.

Reducing radiation hazard opportunities in neonatal unit: quality improvement in radiation safety practices.

Aim: Guided by the ALARA - "As Low As Reasonably Achievable" principle in radiation safety, a quality improvement project to optimise the bedside diagnostic imaging process to the best standards of care was conducted over a six month period. The goal was too reduce the radiation hazard opportunities in the neonatal intensive care unit by at least 75% from the existing level at Q2/2015, within 6 months.

Methods: The existing bedside imaging process was critically analysed and the following quality improvement initiatives were implemented namely, mandatory lead protective gear to healthcare staff, gonadal shield for neonates, guidelines for optimal collimation of X-ray beam and optimal positioning of neonates.

Acute biliary events during anti-tuberculosis treatment: hospital case series and a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the major infectious diseases worldwide. Adverse reactions are common during TB treatment. Few reports, however, are available on treatment-related acute biliary events (ABEs), such as cholelithiasis, biliary obstruction, acute cholecystitis, and cholangitis.

Epidemiology and Predictors of NTM Pulmonary Infection in Taiwan - a Retrospective, Five-Year Multicenter Study.

Multicenter, longitudinal studies on nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) pulmonary infection (PI) are lacking. This study provides a 5-year epidemiological overview of NTM-PI in Taiwan and investigated its predictors. The clinical relevance of each respiratory NTM isolate in six hospitals between 2008 and 2014 was determined according to current guidelines.

Tuberculosis contact investigation in an intermediate burden setting: implications from a large tuberculosis contact cohort in Taiwan.

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Decreased T helper 17 cells in tuberculosis is associated with increased percentages of programmed death ligand 1, T helper 2 and regulatory T cells.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. During active tuberculosis, T helper (Th) 17 cells are decreased, however the association with inhibitory immune regulation is unclear.

Methods: We enrolled 27 patients with TB and 20 age- and sex-matched controls and studies their lymphocyte status.

Attenuation of lymphocyte immune responses during Mycobacterium avium complex-induced lung disease due to increasing expression of programmed death-1 on lymphocytes.

Mycobacterium avium complex-induced lung disease (MAC-LD) becomes important due to its increasing prevalence. Attenuated cellular immunity associated with programmed cell death (PD)-1 may play a pathophysiological role in MAC-LD but lacks of investigation. We enrolled 80 participants in this prospective study, including 50 with MAC-LD and 30 healthy controls.

The trend and the disease prediction of vascular endothelial growth factor and placenta growth factor in nontuberculous mycobacterial lung disease.

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM)-lung disease (LD) is an increasing health problem worldwide. The diagnosis of this disease remains difficult, however the application of placenta growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has not yet been studied. We screened patients with Mycobacterium avium complex or M.

SP110b Controls Host Immunity and Susceptibility to Tuberculosis.

Rationale: How host genetic factors affect Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection outcomes remains largely unknown. SP110b, an IFN-induced nuclear protein, is the nearest human homologue to the mouse Ipr1 protein that has been shown to control host innate immunity to Mtb infection. However, the function(s) of SP110b remains unclear.

Inflammatory markers and clinical characteristics for predicting persistent positivity of interferon gamma release assay in dialysis population.

The interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) is useful for diagnosing latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), however the rate of negative conversion is high, especially in dialysis patients. Few studies have focused on predicting persistently positive patients who are at high risk of tuberculosis reactivation. We screened dialysis patients, and used QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube (QFT-GIT) to identify LTBI.

Risk of Tuberculosis Among Patients on Dialysis: The Predictive Value of Serial Interferon-Gamma Release Assay.

Patients on long-term dialysis are at high risk for tuberculosis (TB). Although latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is good target for TB eradication, interferon-gamma release assay-defined LTBI has a high proportion of negative conversion and lacks active TB correlation among patients on dialysis.Patients on long-term dialysis were screened in multiple centers in Taiwan.

Acquisition of Mycobacterium abscessus among ventilator-dependent patients in Taiwan chronic respiratory care facilities.

Aim: To investigate the acquisition of Mycobacterium abscessus among ventilator-dependent patients.

Materials & Methods: We prospectively recruited ventilator-dependent patients in five respiratory care wards (RCWs). Respiratory specimens were cultured for mycobacteria on day 1 (D1), 3 months (M3) and 6 months (M6) after enrollment.

Nine- to Twelve-Month Anti-Tuberculosis Treatment Is Associated with a Lower Recurrence Rate than 6-9-Month Treatment in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients: A Retrospective Population-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan.

Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients are at an increased risk of tuberculosis (TB) and its recurrence following completion of anti-TB treatment. We investigated whether extending anti-TB treatment to 9 months or longer reduces TB recurrence.

Methods: HIV-infected patients who were diagnosed with pulmonary TB between 1997 and 2009 and who received anti-TB treatment for a duration between 5.

The Effects of an Empowerment Intervention on Renal Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Renal transplantation is a vital treatment for end-stage renal disease. To help improve quality of life after renal transplant surgery, interventions are needed to strengthen the coping skills and self-care behaviors of patients. However, most research studies on self-care after renal transplantation have addressed related factors.

Plasma Biomarkers Can Predict Treatment Response in Tuberculosis Patients: A Prospective Observational Study.

Despite numerous studies, there has been little progress in the use of biomarkers for predicting treatment response in patients with tuberculosis (TB). Patients with culture-confirmed pulmonary TB between 2010 and 2014 were prospectively recruited. Blood samples were taken upon diagnosis and 2 months after the start of standard anti-TB treatment.

Mycobacterium abscessus Complex Infections in Humans.

Mycobacterium abscessus complex comprises a group of rapidly growing, multidrug-resistant, nontuberculous mycobacteria that are responsible for a wide spectrum of skin and soft tissue diseases, central nervous system infections, bacteremia, and ocular and other infections. M. abscessus complex is differentiated into 3 subspecies: M.

Gender-Dimorphic Impact of PXR Genotype and Haplotype on Hepatotoxicity During Antituberculosis Treatment.

Women have a higher risk of drug-induced hepatotoxicity during antituberculosis treatment (HATT) than men. We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype and derived haplotype of pregnane X receptor (PXR) gene, which could regulate the expression of phase I enzyme cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, had a sex-specific influence on the risk of HATT. Six SNPs of the PXR gene were sequenced.