Comparative evaluation of sensititre YeastOne and VITEK2 antifungal susceptibility tests with CLSI broth microdilution method of clinical isolates in Taiwan.

Unlabelled: Commercial antifungal susceptibility tests were available for clinical yeast isolates. However, the updated Sensititre YeastOne (SYO) version YO10C excluded species for susceptibility testing. Uncorrelation of antifungal susceptibility patterns by SYO and therapeutic outcomes had been recently reported.

Severe Lung Infection and Septicemia Caused by -A Case Report and Evaluation of Bacterial Traits.

species are gram stain-negative rods that are facultatively anaerobic; they have been isolated from wetland soil. Clinical infection caused by this genus is rarely reported. We report the case of an 84-year-old woman with chronic renal disease and hypertension who acquired lung infection and septicemia in Southern Taiwan.

Pancreaticobiliary Cancers and Aeromonas Isolates Carrying Type Ⅲ Secretion System Genes Are Associated With Increased Mortality: An Analysis of 164 Aeromonas Infection Episodes in Southern Taiwan.

This prospective study aimed to investigate the clinical and microbiological characteristics of different species. Clinical isolates of species between 2016 to 2018 were collected in a university hospital in southern Taiwan. The species was determined by or sequencing.

Risk of non-typhoidal Salmonella vascular infections is increased with degree of atherosclerosis and inflammation: A multicenter study in southern Taiwan.

Background: Atherosclerosis and vascular inflammatory response have been considered as risk factors for non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) vascular infection. The study aims to assess the risk of vascular infection by measuring atherosclerosis severity, NTS vascular infection (NTSVI) score, and serum levels of inflammatory markers in people with NTS bacteremia.

Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in two medical centers and two regional hospitals.

Species identification and antifungal susceptibility of uncommon blood yeast isolates.

Background/purpose: Accurate identification of Candida species is increasingly important in the era of emergence of Candida auris. We aimed to compare the identification performance of two matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) systems (Vitek MS and Bruker biotyper MS) and an oligonucleotide array for uncommon blood yeast isolates and demonstrate the susceptibilities among those isolates.

Method: Candida species isolates from blood culture other than Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, and Candida krusei identified by biochemical methods were collected from multiple hospitals and further identified by an oligonucleotide array based on the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) and ITS-2 sequences of the rRNA genes, Vitek MS and Bruker biotyper MS.

Isolates from Fish and Patients in Tainan City, Taiwan: Genotypic and Phenotypic Characteristics.

The present study aimed to isolate from fish sold in the markets as well as in sushi and seafood shops and compare their virulence factors and antimicrobial characteristics with those of clinical isolates. Among the 128 fish isolates and 47 clinical isolates, , , and were the principal species. isolates carried at least 5 virulence genes, more than other species.

Oligonucleotide Array and VITEK Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry in Species Identification of Blood Yeast Isolates.

We evaluated matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry using VITEK MS (IVD database) and an oligonucleotide array based on the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) and ITS-2 sequences of rRNA genes for the identification of spp. from blood cultures. Five-hundred and twelve consecutive bloodstream yeast isolates were collected daily and initially identified by the phenotypic automated method (VITEK YBC or VITEK2 YST card).

A DNA dot hybridization model for molecular diagnosis of parasitic keratitis.

Purpose: Developing a DNA dot hybridization model for diagnosing parasitic keratitis.

Methods: Newly designed oligonucleotide probes for detecting and microsporidia were tested with target reference strains of (n = 20) and microsporidia (n = 3), and non-target microorganisms, including bacteria (n = 20) and fungi (n = 20). These probes, which had passed the preliminary tests, were then assembled as a parasite dot hybridization (PDH) model for assessing 33 clinical samples from patients with clinically suspected and microsporidia keratitis, including eight positives for , 13 positives for microsporidia, and 12 negatives for both pathogens.

Rapid identification of allergenic and pathogenic molds in environmental air by an oligonucleotide array.

Background: Airborne fungi play an important role in causing allergy and infections in susceptible people. Identification of these fungi, based on morphological characteristics, is time-consuming, expertise-demanding, and could be inaccurate.

Methods: We developed an oligonucleotide array that could accurately identify 21 important airborne fungi (13 genera) that may cause adverse health problems.

Identification of clinically important anaerobic bacteria by an oligonucleotide array.

Anaerobic bacteria can cause a wide variety of infections, and some of these infections can be serious. Conventional identification methods based on biochemical tests are often lengthy and can produce inconclusive results. An oligonucleotide array based on the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer (ITS) sequences was developed to identify 28 species of anaerobic bacteria and Veillonella.

Induction of cell death in RAW 264.7 cells by alpha-lactalbumin.

Alpha-lactalbumin (alpha-LA), a major human milk whey protein, has been reported to exhibit bactericidal properties, immune suppressive effects, anti-proliferation and apoptosis in transformed cells; however, little is known about its anti-inflammation and related molecular mechanism. In this study we investigated the effects of alpha-LA on macrophages. We found that treatment with high concentration alpha-LA (> or = 100 microg/ml) could result in a time- and dose-dependent decrease in growth activity, morphological changes, increase in hypodiploid DNA population, and DNA fragmentation in RAW 264.

Norcantharidin preferentially induces apoptosis in human leukemic Jurkat cells without affecting viability of normal blood mononuclear cells.

Norcantharidin (NCTD) is known to have anti-cancer potentials. The aim of this study was to assess the apoptosis-inducing effect of NCTD on human leukemic Jurkat cells. We found that NCTD preferentially inhibited the growth of Jurkat cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, but not the growth of normal blood mononuclear cells (MNC).

Participation of p97Eps8 in Src-mediated transformation.

Histone acetylase and histone deacetylase are two crucial enzymes that determine the structure of chromatin, regulating gene expression. In this study, we observed that trichostatin A (TSA), a specific histone deacetylase inhibitor, could effectively inhibit the growth of v-Src-transformed (IV5) cells and abrogate their ability to form colonies in soft agar. Further analysis demonstrated that, although TSA reduced the expression of Eps8 in a dose- and time-dependent manner, both the protein expression and kinase activity of v-Src remained constant, and the abundance and phosphotyrosine levels of Src substrates, including cortactin, focal adhesion kinase, p130(Cas), paxillin, and Shc, were not altered.

Direct inhibitory effect of curcumin on Src and focal adhesion kinase activity.

Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) is a well-known agent with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticarcinogenic properties. In this study, we observed that curcumin inhibited the kinase activity of v-Src, which led to a decrease in tyrosyl substrate phosphorylation of Shc, cortactin, and FAK. Our in vitro kinase experiment revealed that the inhibitory effect of curcumin on Src could be direct.