First report of hop stunt viroid infecting luffa and cantaloupe in Taiwan.

Luffa (Luffa cylindrica (L.) M. Roem.

The modified pancreatic stent system for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis: a case-control study.

Background: Prophylactic pancreatic stents after endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) can help prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. However most of the pancreatic stents need to be removed by another ERCP. The aim of this observational study was to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of the modified pancreatic stent system for prevention of post-ERCP pancreatitis.

High dietary selenium intake is associated with less insulin resistance in the Newfoundland population.

As an essential nutrient, Selenium (Se) is involved in many metabolic activities including mimicking insulin function. Data on Se in various biological samples and insulin resistance are contradictory, moreover there is no large study available regarding the relationship of dietary Se intake with insulin resistance in the general population. To investigate the association between dietary Se intake and variation of insulin resistance in a large population based study, a total of 2420 subjects without diabetes from the CODING (Complex Diseases in the Newfoundland Population: Environment and Genetics) study were assessed.

Endoscopic Sphincterotomy for Gallbladder Muddy Stones or Sludge in Patients With Papillary Disease: A Retrospective Study.

Background: The formation of gallbladder stones is associated with dysfunctional contraction and duodenal papilla diseases. However, endoscopic sphincterotomy can improve the contraction of the gallbladder and resolve duodenal papilla disease.

Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of endoscopic sphincterotomy in the treatment of muddy stones or sludge in the gallbladder during papillary disease.

Choledochoscopic high-frequency needle-knife electrotomy for treatment of anastomotic strictures after Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy.

Background: Anastomotic stricture is a complex and substantial complication following Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy. Initially, endoscopic and percutaneous approaches are often attempted, but the gold standard remains surgical biliary reconstruction, especially for refractory stricture. However, this solution leaves much room for improvement, due to the challenging nature of the biliary reconstruction procedure, in which anastomotic stricture may still occur.

[Prevention and treatment of complications for full-covered self-expanding removable metal stents in malignant obstructive jaundice].

Objective: To explore the prevention and treatment of complications for full-covered self-expanding removable metal stents (FCSERMS) in malignant obstructive jaundice.

Methods: The clinical data were analyzed retrospectively for 45 cases undergoing endoscopic biliary FCSERMS drainage for malignant obstructive jaundice from May 2012 to March 2014.

Results: Among them, 45 cases were successful one time.

Choledochoscopic high-frequency needle-knife electrotomy as an effective treatment for intrahepatic biliary strictures.

Background And Aim: Hepatolithiasis is associated with the presence of intrahepatic biliary strictures, and balloon dilatation is the main approach. However, this method is difficult to implement if the bile duct distal to the stricture is blocked by stones. Therefore, alternative methods need to be explored to effectively treat hepatolithiasis.

Common bile duct injury by fibrin glue: report of a rare complication.

Fibrin glue is widely used in clinical practice and plays an important role in reducing postoperative complications. We report a case of a 65-year-old man, whose common bile duct was injured by fibrin glue, with a history of failed laparoscopic cholecystectomy and open operation for uncontrolled laparoscopic bleeding. In view of the persistent liver dysfunction, xanthochromia and skin itching, the patient was admitted to us for further management.

Multiple resistance-activating substances produced by Humicola phialophoroides isolated from soil for control of Phytophthora blight of pepper.

Background: Microorganisms capable of utilizing vegetable tissues for multiplication in soil were isolated, cultivated in liquid medium prepared from the same vegetable tissues, and tested for ability to activate resistance in pepper leaves against Phytophthora blight caused by Phytophthora capsici.

Results: Among the 121 microorganisms isolated, a fungus Humicola phialophoroides showed distinct ability to produce substances capable of activating resistance. The resistance-activating substances produced by H.

Biliary casts after liver transplantation: morphology and biochemical analysis.

Aim: To investigate the pathogenesis of biliary casts after liver transplantation relative to their morphology and biochemical markers.

Methods: The microstructure of biliary casts was assessed using scanning electron microscopy and Hematoxylin and eosin staining assessed their histology. The expression levels of CD3, CD5, CD34, CD68 and CD79a in these biliary casts were evaluated immunohistochemically.

Clinical analysis and significance of cholangiography for biliary cast/stone after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Cholangiography is an important method for the diagnosis of biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation. The cholangiography after orthotopic liver transplantation presents special challenges, especially in patients with biliary cast/stone and biliary stenosis. We described the T-tube cholangiography combined therapeutic fibro-choledochoscopy for the diagnosis and treatment of biliary cast following after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Characterization of a fungistatic substance produced by Aspergillus flavus isolated from soil and its significance in nature.

A fungus capable of using vegetable tissues for multiplication in soil was isolated and identified as Aspergillus flavus based on morphological characteristics and sequence similarity of ITS and 28S. When grown in liquid medium prepared from the same vegetable tissues used in soil amendment, the isolate of A. flavus produced a substance capable of preventing disease development of black leaf spot of mustard cabbage caused by Alternaria brassicicola and inhibiting the germination of A.

Development of artificial conidia for ecological studies of Rhizoctonia solani in soil.

Artificial conidia of Rhizoctonia solani were developed by releasing protoplasts from young mycelia with lytic enzymes and by inducing cell wall formation in stabilizer solution. Conidia produced in this way were spherical with sizes ranging from 10 to 20μm in diameter. Artificial conidia were sensitive to soil fungistasis.

Activity and characterization of secondary metabolites produced by a new microorganism for control of plant diseases.

Microorganisms capable of utilizing vegetable tissues for growth in soils were isolated and their vegetable broth cultures were individually sprayed directly on leaves to test their ability to control Phytophthora blight of bell pepper caused by Phytophthora capsici. Liquid culture of Streptomyces strain TKA-5, a previously undescribed species obtained in this study, displayed several desirable disease control characteristics in nature, including high potency, long lasting and ability to control also black leaf spot of spoon cabbage caused by Alternaria brassicicolca. The extract was fungicidal to P.

Factors affecting protoplast formation by Rhizoctonia solani.

Novozym 234 was the most frequently used enzyme for production of Rhizoctonia solani protoplasts. Since manufacture of this enzyme was discontinued in the late 1990s, a new procedure was developed by testing lytic enzymes from Sigma and by examining factors affecting protoplast formation. The combination of 20 mg/mL Driselase and 10mg/mL lysing enzyme was effective in releasing protoplasts from R.

Preclinical evaluation of a novel pyrimidopyrimidine for the prevention of nucleoside and nucleobase reversal of antifolate cytotoxicity.

Antifolates have been used to treat cancer for the last 50 years and remain the mainstay of many therapeutic regimes. Nucleoside salvage, which depends on plasma membrane transport, can compromise the activity of antifolates. The cardiovascular drug dipyridamole inhibits nucleoside transport and enhances antifolate cytotoxicity in vitro, but its clinical activity is compromised by binding to the plasma protein alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP).

Occurrence of isolates of Phytophthora colocasiae in Taiwan with homothallic behavior and its significance.

Leaf blight and corm rot caused by Phytophthora colocasiae are the most devastating diseases of taro. Oospores of P. colocasiae have not been considered important in the survival in natural soil because the pathogen is heterothallic and there is essentially no chance for the presence of both A1 and A2 mating types in the same host tissue.