Estimating insulin sensitivity and β-cell function from the oral glucose tolerance test: validation of a new insulin sensitivity and secretion (ISS) model.

Efficient and accurate methods to estimate insulin sensitivity () and β-cell function (BCF) are of great importance for studying the pathogenesis and treatment effectiveness of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Existing methods range in sensitivity, input data, and technical requirements. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) are preferred because they are simpler and more physiological than intravenous methods.

Estimating Insulin Sensitivity and Beta-Cell Function from the Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Validation of a new Insulin Sensitivity and Secretion (ISS) Model.

Efficient and accurate methods to estimate insulin sensitivity (S) and beta-cell function (BCF) are of great importance for studying the pathogenesis and treatment effectiveness of type 2 diabetes. Many methods exist, ranging in input data and technical requirements. Oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) are preferred because they are simpler and more physiological.

Corneal Backscatters as an Objective Index for Assessing Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: To provide an objective, quantitative approach for monitoring Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), with Scheimpflug imaging.

Design: This is a retrospective case-control pilot study.

Methods: The study group consisted of 53 eyes in 27 patients diagnosed with FECD, with normal subjects paired as control.

Shifting trends in microbial keratitis following penetrating keratoplasty in Taiwan.

To investigate the clinical and microbiological profiles from microbial keratitis following penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) in a tertiary referral center in Taiwan, the medical records of 648 consecutive patients (648 eyes) undergoing PKP between January 2003 and December 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients who subsequently sustained microbial keratitis were enrolled and analyzed for potential risk factors, clinical manifestations, microbiological profiles, complications, graft survival, and final visual outcome. A total number of 42 corneal graft infections (6.

Clinical Characteristics of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Keratitis.

Purpose: Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an important opportunistic pathogen but an uncommon cause of corneal infections. This study aimed to report the clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility, treatments, and visual outcomes of S. maltophilia keratitis.

Shifting Trends in Bacterial Keratitis in Taiwan: A 10-Year Review in a Tertiary-Care Hospital.

Purpose: To investigate the distribution, current trends, and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of bacterial keratitis isolates over 10 years.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the microbiology records of all corneal scrapings undertaken for cultures at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital from 2003 through 2012. We identified bacterial isolates and verified antibiotic susceptibilities by using the disk diffusion method.

Risk Factors and Microbiological Features of Patients Hospitalized for Microbial Keratitis: A 10-Year Study in a Referral Center in Taiwan.

We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional study to analyze predisposing factors, clinical features, and microbiological characteristics of patients with microbial keratitis hospitalized over 10 years.The medical records of 558 patients who were diagnosed with microbial keratitis and admitted to Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH), a referral center in Taiwan, from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2012 were reviewed. Demographics, predisposing factors, isolated organisms, treatment, and hospital stay were recorded.

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Ocular Infection in Taiwan: Clinical Features, Genotying, and Antibiotic Susceptibility.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is an important public health issue. This observational study aimed to characterize clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility, and genotypes of ocular infections caused by MRSA based on the clinical and molecular definitions of community-associated (CA) and healthcare-associated (HA) strains.Fifty-nine patients with culture-proven S aureus ocular infection were enrolled from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2011 at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan.

Clinical characteristics of alternaria keratitis.

Purpose. Alternaria spp. are an uncommon cause of mycotic keratitis.

Pediatric microbial keratitis in Taiwan: clinical and microbiological profiles, 1998-2002 versus 2008-2012.

Purpose: To identify the change in clinical and microbiological profiles of pediatric microbial keratitis in Taiwan between 1998-2002 and 2008-2012.

Design: Retrospective, observational study.

Method: setting: Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, a referral center in Taiwan.

Staphylococcus aureus keratitis: a review of hospital cases.

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is an important public health issue. The study aimed to characterize the patient demographics, clinical features, antibiotic susceptibility, and clinical outcomes of keratitis caused by S. aureus, and to make a comparison between MRSA and methicillin-sensitive S.

Therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in severe infective keratitis using glycerol-preserved donor corneas.

Purpose: To report the surgical outcome of therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty (TPKP) using glycerol-preserved donor corneas in severe infective keratitis.

Methods: Glycerol-preserved corneas were obtained from the recipient corneas of the patients who underwent optical penetrating keratoplasty and preserved in glycerol. Eight eyes of 8 patients (3 men/5 women; average age, 69.

Primary phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation for acute primary angle-closure.

Background: To investigate the effect of primary phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) in patients with acute primary angle-closure (PAC) and coexisting cataract.

Methodology: Sixteen eyes of 14 patients with acute PAC received phacoemulsification and intraocular lens implantation as initial management for medically uncontrolled IOP in a retrospective chart review. The effects on IOP, vision, anterior chamber depth (ACD), and number of antiglaucoma medications were evaluated.

Role of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in ex vivo expansion of human limbal epithelial cells cultured on human amniotic membrane.

Purpose: To investigate the expression and pivotal role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in the ex vivo expansion of human limbal explants with or without amniotic membrane (AM).

Methods: Corneoscleral buttons were cultured on intact, denuded AM or plastic dishes for 3 weeks. To determine the role of MMP-9 in cell migration, either the MMP inhibitor GM6001 or an MMP-9 antibody was used.

The progressive changes of nasal symmetry and growth after nasoalveolar molding: a three-year follow-up study.

The purpose of this study was to assess the progressive changes of nasal symmetry, growth, and relapse after presurgical nasoalveolar molding and primary cheiloplasty in unilateral complete cleft lip/palate infants. Twenty-five consecutive complete unilateral cleft lip/palate infants were included. All the infants underwent nasoalveolar molding before primary cheiloplasty.

Combination of adult inclusion conjunctivitis and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma in a young adult.

Purpose: To report a patient who was diagnosed with combined adult inclusion conjunctivitis (AIC) and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma.

Methods: This is a case report.

Results: An 18-year-old male patient presented with chronic conjunctivitis and giant follicles.

Retained Descemet's membrane after penetrating keratoplasty.

Retained Descemet's membrane is a rare complication of penetrating keratoplasty (PKP). The membrane can become progressively opaque and threaten the health of the corneal graft. We report such a case involving a 53-year-old man.

Expression of a truncated Brca1 protein delays lactational mammary development in transgenic mice.

To address the hypothesis that certain disease-associated mutants of the breast-ovarian cancer susceptibility gene BRCA1 have biological activity in vivo, we have expressed a truncated Brca1 protein (trBrca1) in cell-lines and in the mammary gland of transgenic mice. Immunofluorescent analysis of transfected cell-lines indicates that trBRCA1 is a stable protein and that it is localized in the cell cytoplasm. Functional analysis of these cell-lines indicates that expression of trBRCA1 confers an increased radiosensitivity phenotype on mammary epithelial cells, consistent with abrogation of the BRCA1 pathway.