Size distribution and antibiotic-resistant characteristics of bacterial bioaerosol in intensive care unit before and during visits to patients.

Airborne bacteria in hospitals have been implicated in nosocomial infections. This investigation studied the characteristics of airborne bacteria and the effect of patient visitation on the bacteria profile in intensive care units (ICUs). Air at a medical ICU and surgical ICU was sampled for one year.

Involvement of FGFR4 Gene Variants on the Clinicopathological Severity in Urothelial Cell Carcinoma.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) plays a prominent role in cell proliferation and cancer progression. This study explored the effect of FGFR4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the clinicopathological characteristics of urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC). This study was conducted to survey the possible correlation of the polymorphism of FGFR4 to the risk and clinicopathologic characteristics of UCC.

Impact of endothelial nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms on urothelial cell carcinoma development.

Objectives: Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC), a major malignancy of the genitourinary tract, is induced through carcinogenic etiological factors. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is one of the major isoforms of nitric oxide synthase and is involved in various pathophysiologic and physiologic processes. In this study, eNOS single-nucleotide polymorphisms were investigated to evaluate UCC susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics.

Effects of genetic polymorphisms of programmed cell death 1 and its ligands on the development of ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: There is a known association of imbalanced peripheral tolerance and autoimmune diseases. The binding of programmed cell death 1 (PD-1) with its ligands 1 and 2 (PD-L1 and PD-L2) inhibits T-cell proliferation through a negative signal via recruitment of src homology 2-domain-containing tyrosine phosphatase 2. Therefore we evaluated the effect of the PD-1, PD-L1 and PD-L2 genotypes on the occurrence of AS in a population of Taiwanese patients.

Osteoprotegerin genetic polymorphisms and age of symptom onset in ankylosing spondylitis.

Objectives: Osteoporosis is one of the recognized features of AS. It is known that RANK ligand (RANKL), which binds to RANK, can cause the activation of bone resorption. Osteoprotegerin (OPG) also competes with RANK by binding to RANKL and inhibiting bone absorption.