Anti-Mitochondrial Antibody Titers Decrease Over Time in Primary Biliary Cholangitis Patients With Ursodeoxycholic Acid Therapeutic Response: A Cohort Study Followed Up to 28 Years.

Background: How anti-mitochondrial antibody (AMA) and liver biochemistry levels change in primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) patients treated with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) remains unclear.

Methods: A 28-year cohort of 157 PBC patients was conducted. Patients with alkaline phosphatase (Alk-p) levels >1.

Evolution of Cryoglobulinemia in Direct-Acting Antiviral-Treated Asian Hepatitis C Patients With Sustained Virological Responses: A 4-Year Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: How cryoglobulinemia evolves after sustained virological response (SVR) following direct-acting antiviral (DAA) treatment in Asian hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected patients remains elusive.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 422 Taiwanese patients (358 completed DAA therapy and 353 experienced SVRs). Serum cryoglobulins were surveyed at baseline and every 3-6 months posttherapy.

The Psychological Adaptation Process in Chinese Parent Caregivers of Pediatric Leukemia Patients: A Qualitative Analysis.

Background: Psychological stresses caused by caring for pediatric leukemia patients can affect their parent caregivers' health. How these stressors are successfully managed determines how well these caregivers adapt to the illness situation over time. Previous studies suggest that caregivers will adapt gradually to the adverse consequences of caring for their child with a long-term illness.

Predict Early Recurrence of Resectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using Multi-Dimensional Artificial Intelligence Analysis of Liver Fibrosis.

Background: Liver fibrosis is thought to be associated with early recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after resection. To recognize HCC patients with higher risk of early recurrence, we used a second harmonic generation and two-photon excitation fluorescence (SHG/TPEF) microscopy to create a fully quantitative fibrosis score which is able to predict early recurrence.

Methods: The study included 81 HCC patients receiving curative intent hepatectomy.

Hepatitis C-associated late-onset schizophrenia: a nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Background: Whether infection with the hepatitis C virus (HCV) causes schizophrenia - and whether the associated risk reverses after anti-HCV therapy - is unknown; we aimed to investigate these topics.

Methods: We conducted a nationwide, population-based cohort study using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (TNHIRD). A diagnosis of schizophrenia was based on criteria from the , 9th revision (295.

Critical role of triglycerides for adiponectin levels in hepatitis C: a joint study of human and HCV core transgenic mice.

Background: Both hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and adiponectin are critically involved in metabolism. The reversal and associations of altering adiponectin levels after sustained virological responses (SVRs) following direct-acting antivirals (DAA) in HCV-infected patients remained elusive.

Methods: A joint study was conducted in a prospective cohort of 427 HCV-infected patients and a line of HCV core transgenic mice.

Association between Hepatitis C Virus Infection and Esophageal Cancer: An Asian Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection causes many extrahepatic cancers, and whether HCV infection is associated with esophageal cancer development remains inconclusive. A nationwide population-based cohort study of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database (TNHIRD) was conducted. From 2003 to 2012, of 11,895,993 patients, three 1:1:1 propensity score-matched cohorts, including HCV-treated (interferon-based therapy ≧6 months, = 9047), HCV-untreated ( = 9047), and HCV-uninfected cohorts ( = 9047), were enrolled.

Identification of the Representative Primary Biliary Cholangitis Cohort in Taiwan: A Comparison of Four Nationwide Cohorts.

Background/purpose: The rates and outcomes of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) in Taiwan remain unclear.

Methods: A nationwide population-based cohort study (Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database, 2002-2015) was conducted. Data from four PBC cohorts with various definitions were compared (cohort 1 (C1): ICD-9-CM (571.

Genetic Association of Hepatitis C-Related Mixed Cryoglobulinemia: A 10-Year Prospective Study of Asians Treated with Antivirals.

Genetic profiles of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-associated mixed cryoglobulinemia (MC) in Asians remain elusive. A 10-year prospective cohort study was conducted with 1043 consecutive HCV Ab-positive Taiwanese surveyed with 13 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Of 1043, 589 (56.

Impact of Interferon-Based Therapy on Hepatitis C-Associated Rheumatic Diseases: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study.

Whether hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection-associated risk of rheumatic diseases is reversed by anti-HCV therapy remain elusive. A nationwide population-based cohort study of the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was conducted. Of 19,298,735 subjects, 3 cohorts (1:4:4, propensity score-matched), including HCV-treated (6919 HCV-infected subjects with interferon and ribavirin therapy ≥ 6 months), HCV-untreated ( = 27,676) and HCV-uninfected ( = 27,676) cohorts, were enrolled and followed (2003-2015).

Accelerated cardiovascular risk after viral clearance in hepatitis C patients with the NAMPT-rs61330082 TT genotype: An 8-year prospective cohort study.

Involvement of extracellular nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (eNAMPT, i.e., visfatin or pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor), a cancer metabokine, in chronically hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected (CHC) patients with sustained virological responses (SVRs) remains elusive.

Relationship between cognitive emotion regulation strategies and coronary heart disease: an empirical examination of heart rate variability and coronary stenosis.

Objective: Despite longstanding interest in emotion regulation and cardiovascular health, limited studies have investigated the relationship between cognitive emotion regulation (CER) strategies and coronary heart disease (CHD) using objective measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and coronary stenosis. This study aimed to objectively explore the associations between CER strategies and both HRV and coronary stenosis and provide empirical evidence for the relationship between emotion regulation and CHD.

Methods: Questionnaires on CER strategies were distributed to 251 CHD patients and 250 healthy persons.

Relationship between resilience and insomnia among the middle-aged and elderly: mediating role of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies.

This study aimed to investigate the relationships between cognitive emotion regulation (CER) strategies, resilience, and insomnia and the underlying mechanism that explains the relationships. Six hundred and fifty-three middle-aged and old people recruited from community service centers in Henan province completed questionnaires related to CER strategies, resilience, and insomnia. Results showed refocus on planning and positive reappraisal negatively predicted insomnia, and catastrophising, rumination and self-blame positively predicted insomnia.

Drug-Induced Extrapyramidal Symptoms at the Pediatric Emergency Department.

Objectives: Extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by pharmacologic agents can cause patient discomfort and lead to emergency department visits. Analyzing these cases at a pediatric emergency department may help to elucidate the characteristic features of extrapyramidal syndrome in children.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

Self-Efficacy and Short-Term Adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Treatment in Children.

Study Objectives: Infants, children, and adolescents are increasingly being prescribed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), yet adherence is often poor. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between caregiver and patient-reported health cognitions about CPAP prior to starting CPAP and CPAP adherence at 1 month. We hypothesized that greater caregiver-reported self-efficacy would be positively associated with CPAP adherence in children.

Linking TFT-LCD wastewater treatment performance to microbial population abundance of Hyphomicrobium and Thiobacillus spp.

This study investigated the linkage between performance of two full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems treating thin-film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) wastewater and the population dynamics of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO)/dimethylsulfide (DMS) degrading bacteria. High DMSO degradation efficiencies were achieved in both MBRs, while the levels of nitrification inhibition due to DMS production from DMSO degradation were different in the two MBRs. The results of real-time PCR targeting on DMSO/DMS degrading populations, including Hyphomicrobium and Thiobacillus spp.

Impact of food to microorganism (F/M) ratio and colloidal chemical oxygen demand on nitrification performance of a full-scale membrane bioreactor treating thin film transistor liquid crystal display wastewater.

This study investigated impact of food to microorganism (F/M) ratio and colloidal chemical oxygen demand (COD) on nitrification performance in one full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating monoethanolamine (MEA)/dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-containing thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) wastewater. Poor nitrification was observed under high organic loading and high colloidal COD conditions, suggesting that high F/M ratio and colloidal COD situations should be avoided to minimize their negative impacts on nitrification. According to the nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) statistical analyses on terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) results of ammonia monooxygenase (amoA) gene, the occurrence of Nitrosomonas oligotropha-like ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was positively related to successful nitrification in the MBR systems, while Nitrosomonas europaea-like AOB was positively linked to nitrification rate, which can be attributed to the high influent total nitrogen condition.

Nitrification performance and microbial ecology of nitrifying bacteria in a full-scale membrane bioreactor treating TFT-LCD wastewater.

This study investigated nitrification performance and nitrifying community in one full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating TFT-LCD wastewater. For the A/O MBR system treating monoethanolamine (MEA) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), no nitrification was observed, due presumably to high organic loading, high colloidal COD, low DO, and low hydraulic retention time (HRT) conditions. By including additional A/O or O/A tanks, the A/O/A/O MBR and the O/A/O MBR were able to perform successful nitrification.

Immunologic analysis and serum heavy metal levels in exacerbated Tourette syndrome.

Tourette syndrome (TS) is a childhood-onset and relapsing disorder characterized by involuntary simple or complex tics and high co-morbidity with behavioral anomalies. Its pathophysiologic mechanisms remain unclarified. We investigated immunologic alternations and serum heavy metal levels in patients with TS to elucidate the unclarified mechanisms.

Cell cycle perturbation in the hepatocytes of HCV core transgenic mice following common bile duct ligation is associated with enhanced p21 expression.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein has been reported to alter the cell cycle in vitro, but the data remain inconclusive, and in vitro experiments do not represent precisely events that occur in vivo, which may involve hepatic inflammation or regeneration. A group of double-transgenic mice carrying tetracycline transactivator (tTA) and HCV core that express conditionally the HCV core in the mature liver, and single-transgenic mice carrying only tTA were subjected to sham laparotomy, 43% partial hepatectomy, or common bile duct ligation. The cell cycle markers, including cyclin A, B1, D, E1, Mcm-2, phosphorylated histone 3 protein, Ki67, and p21Waf1/Cip1/Sdi1 (p21), were evaluated in liver samples obtained 3 days after the operation.

The various impacts of the hepatitis C virus core protein upon hepatic oxidative stress after common bile duct ligation and partial hepatectomy.

Introduction: Although it is uncertain how the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein influences hepatic oxidative stress after partial hepatectomy and common bile duct ligation (CBDL) this may be crucial for the prognosis of patients with HCV infection who have undergone hepatic resection, or who have complications due to a biliary tract obstruction.

Materials And Methods: A group of double transgenic mice (DTM) that express both the tetracycline transactivator (tTA) and the HCV core, with conditional, acute expression of the HCV core in the context of the mature liver were subjected to 43% partial hepatectomy and CBDL. The levels of thioredoxin-1, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) were evaluated in liver samples taken 3 days after the operations.

Acute expression of hepatitis C core protein in adult mouse liver: Mitochondrial stress and apoptosis.

Objective: In infection with hepatitis C virus (HCV), spontaneous clearance of the virus occurs in 30-40% of cases. By contrast, in chronic infection, this is rare. The basis for viral clearance in acute disease is unknown.

Gene gun bombardment with DNA-coated gold particles is a potential alternative to hydrodynamics-based transfection for delivering genes into superficial hepatocytes.

Although in vivo nonviral gene delivery to the liver is critical for hepatic gene therapy, there are a number of technical obstacles. Enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-encoding DNA was coated onto gold particles (gold-DNA), dissolved in phosphate-buffered saline (pure DNA), and prepared as a polymer adjuvant (jetPEI)-galactosidase solution (polymer-DNA). Murine liver transfection was attempted by nonviral approaches, which included hydrodynamics-based transfection (HBT) of pure DNA, transport and transhepatic injection of polymer-DNA, and gene gun bombardment with pure DNA, gold-DNA, and polymer-DNA.

Altered expression patterns of lipid metabolism genes in an animal model of HCV core-related, nonobese, modest hepatic steatosis.

Background: Because the gene expression patterns of nonobese hepatic steatosis in affected patients remain unclear, we sought to explore these patterns using an animal model of nonobese hepatic steatosis.

Methods: We developed mice that conditionally express the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein regulated by the tetracycline transactivator (tTA). Microarray analyses and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction were performed using liver samples of both the double transgenic mice (DTM), which express both the HCV core and tTA, and single transgenic mice (STM), which express tTA alone, at 2 months of age.

Neuroimaging correlation with neurological severity in tuberous sclerosis complex.

Objective: To delineate the relationship between neurological severity and neuroimage of lesion load including specific topography of supratentorial cortical tubers and white matter lesions in tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC).

Methods: Twenty-five TSC patients more than 2 years of age who underwent conventional and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequence (FLAIR) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were retrospectively studied. Neurological severity score was designated for three items: seizure, developmental delay and/or mental retardation, and autism.