Classifying Alzheimer's disease and normal subjects using machine learning techniques and genetic-environmental features.

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is complicated by multiple environmental and polygenetic factors. The accuracy of artificial neural networks (ANNs) incorporating the common factors for identifying AD has not been evaluated.

Methods: A total of 184 probable AD patients and 3773 healthy individuals aged 65 and over were enrolled.

Screening of single nucleotide polymorphisms within HLA region related to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation using MassARRAY technology.

A growing number of studies showed that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-related genes were associated with the outcome of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Thus, other SNPs located nearby the classical HLA genes must be considered in HSCT. We evaluated the clinical feasibility of MassARRAY by comparing to Sanger sequencing.

Exploration of the external and internal factors that affected learning effectiveness for the students: a questionnaire survey.

Learning effectiveness may be affected by internal and external factors, including personal attitude, motivations, learning skills, learning environment and peer pressure. This study sought to explore potential factors on students who majored in medical technology. The 106 students who completed their internship at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital were enrolled in this study.

Application of the electronic book to promote self-directed learning in medical technologist continuing education: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Continuing education (CE) is essential for health professionals to improve competence in clinical practice, yet many medical technologists still experience barriers to learning in complex clinical settings. To better manage CE and address medical technologists' learning needs, we developed a learner-centred electronic book (e-book) to promote self-directed learning for medical technologists.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to explore the acceptability and learning impacts of the e-book as CE material for medical technologists in two medical centres in Taiwan.

Methods for Collection of Extracellular Vesicles and Their Content RNA as Liquid Biopsy for Lung Cancer Detection: Application of Differential Centrifugation and Annexin A5 Coated Beads.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain abundant extracellular RNA (exRNA), which can be a valuable source of liquid biopsy. However, as various RNA species exist in different types of EVs, lack of detailed characterization of these RNA species and efficient collection methods limits the clinical application of exRNA. In the present study, we measured two mRNAs, CK19 and PCTK1; one lncRNA, MALAT1; and two miRNAs, miR21 and miR155, in different EV fractions separated by differential centrifugation or captured by magnetic beads coated with annexin A5 (ANX beads).

MicroRNA-based signature for diagnosis and prognosis of colorectal cancer using residuum of fecal immunochemical test.

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is still among the most lethal and prevalent malignancies in the world. Despite continuous efforts, the diagnosis and prognosis of CRC have never been satisfying, especially the non-invasive assays.

Methods: Our study comprised three independent cohorts of 835 qualified stool samples.

Alterations of Gut Microbiota in Patients With Graves' Disease.

Graves' disease (GD) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism. Evidence suggests that alterations to the gut microbiota may be involved in the development of autoimmune disorders. The aim of this study was to characterize the composition of gut microbiota in GD patients.

Molecular Epidemiology of Cytomegalovirus UL97 and UL54 variants in Taiwan.

Background: The antiviral resistance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections is associated with mutations in the CMV UL54 and UL97 gene regions and is a serious problem in immunocompromised patients. However, the molecular epidemiology of UL54 and UL97 in Taiwan is unclear.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with CMV infections between January and December 2016 in two tertiary hospitals, one regional hospital in Taiwan.

Total plaque score helps to determine follow-up strategy for carotid artery stenosis progression in head and neck cancer patients after radiation therapy.

Background: To identify predictors of carotid artery stenosis (CAS) progression in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients after radiation therapy (RT).

Methods: We included 217 stroke-naïve HNC patients with mild carotid artery stenosis after RT in our hospital. These patients underwent annual carotid duplex ultrasound (CDU) studies to monitor CAS progression.

Hypothyroidism and risks of cerebrovascular complications among patients with head and neck cancer after radiotherapy.

Background: Hypothyroidism (HT) and carotid artery stenosis (CAS) are complications of radiotherapy (RT) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). The impact of post-RT HT on CAS progression remains unclear.

Methods: Between 2013 and 2014, HNC patients who had ever received RT and were under regular follow-up in our hospital were initially screened.

Pathogenic Germline Mutations of DNA Repair Pathway Components in Early-Onset Sporadic Colorectal Polyp and Cancer Patients.

Given recent increases in the proportion of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC), researchers are urgently working to establish a multi-gene screening test for both inherited and sporadic cancer-susceptible individuals. However, the incidence and spectrum of germline mutations in young sporadic CRC patients in East Asian countries and, especially, in sporadic polyp carriers and normal individuals are unknown. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 43 colonoscopy-proved normal controls and from 50 polyp patients and 49 CRC patients with no self-reported family history of cancer.

Rescue therapy with rifabutin regimen for refractory Helicobacter pylori infection with dual drug-resistant strains.

Background: There is no current standard rescue treatment for dual drug-resistant strains of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). This aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of rifabutin-based triple therapy for patients infected with dual drug-resistant strains to clarithromycin and levofloxacin.

mutation status in patients with metachronous breast and ovarian malignancies: clues towards the implementation of genetic counseling.

Objective: The characteristics of patients with metachronous breast and ovarian malignancies and the pathogenic role of mutations remain poorly understood. We investigated these issues through a review of hospital records and nationwide Taiwanese registry data, followed by mutation analysis in hospital-based cases.

Methods: We retrospectively retrieved consecutive clinical records of Taiwanese patients who presented with these malignancies to our hospital between 2001 and 2017.

Targeted Next Generation Sequencing for Genetic Mutations of Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Background: Approximately one-third of cases of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) are caused by genetic mutations. With new sequencing technologies, numerous variants have been associated with this inherited cardiomyopathy, however the prevalence and genotype-phenotype correlations in different ethnic cohorts remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the variants in Chinese DCM patients and correlate them with clinical presentations and prognosis.

Diagnosis of Pneumocystis pneumonia by real-time PCR in patients with various underlying diseases.

Background: Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) is a disease caused by the opportunistic infection of the fungus Pneumocystis jirovecii. Several PCR methods have been developed to aid in the diagnosis of PCP. In this study, we evaluated the performance of a real-time PCR in the diagnosis of PCP, in patients with various underlying diseases.

A Simple and Highly Specific MassARRAY-Based Stool DNA Assay to Prioritize Follow-up Decisions in Fecal Immunochemical Test-Positive Individuals.

Background: Seventy-five percent of fecal immunochemical test (FIT)-positive individuals are false positives and undergo unnecessary colonoscopies. Here, we established a stool DNA (sDNA) test that uses the Single Allele Base Extension Reaction (SABER) MassARRAY platform to improve the accuracy of FIT-based CRC detection.

Methods: Twenty-one variants in five CRC-associated genes were selected for the sDNA panel.

Mutation screening in non-syndromic hearing loss patients with cochlear implantation by massive parallel sequencing in Taiwan.

Objectives: To explore the molecular epidemiology of rare deafness genes in Taiwanese sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) patients with cochlear implantation (CI) by performing massive parallel sequencing (MPS) and correlating genetic factors and CI outcomes.

Methods: We enrolled 41 Taiwanese non-syndromic deafness patients with CI that lacked known mutations in common deafness genes. All probands were screened by a targeted exon amplification method that used massively parallel sequencing to screen a customized panel that included 40 relatively rare non-syndromic deafness genes.

Sustained or higher levels of growth factors in platelet-rich plasma during 7-day storage.

Background: The effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) for treating soft tissue injuries is still controversial. Most of PRPs were prepared simply by concentrating in volume and were injected right after preparation in physician offices. Neither platelet count nor growth factors were quantitated in advance.

Positive associations between upregulated levels of stress-induced phosphoprotein 1 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in endometriosis/adenomyosis.

Stress-induced phosphoprotein-1 (STIP1), an adaptor protein that coordinates the functions of HSP70 and HSP90 in protein folding, has been implicated in the development of human gynecologic malignancies. This case-control study investigates STIP1 serum levels and tissue expression in relation to endometriosis/adenomyosis in Taiwanese population. Female patients with surgically confirmed endometriosis/adenomyosis were compared with women free of endometriosis/adenomyosis.

Acquired somatic or mutations are potential predictors of when polyps evolve into colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops from accumulated mutations. However, which gene determines the malignant transformation from adenoma to carcinoma is still uncertain. Fifty-three formalin fixed paraffin-embedded polyps that had pathological findings from patients with hyperplasia, adenomatous, and tubular adenoma < 1 cm (non-neoplasia polyps, NNP, = 27) or tubular adenoma ≥ 1 cm, tubulovillous and villous adenoma (neoplastic polyps, NP, = 26) were recruited.

Exploring the Spectrum of Subcortical Hyperintensities and Cognitive Decline.

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) include periventricular WMH (pvWMH) and deep WMH. When hyperintensities in the basal ganglia or brainstem are included, the collective term is subcortical hyperintensities. Both WMH and medial temporal lobe atrophy (MTA) are risk factors for cognitive decline.

A comprehensive analysis of the association of common variants of ABCG2 with gout.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether there was an association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ABCG2 and gout. We recruited 333 participants including 210 patients with gout and 123 controls and genotyped 45 SNPs in both cohorts. We found that 24 SNPs in ABCG2 are susceptibility loci associated with gout.