Trends of mycobacterial clinical isolates in Taiwan.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) can cause chronic pulmonary infection, however, NTM infection is generally overlooked. This retrospective study analyzed the frequencies of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and NTM clinical isolates from 99 200 specimens of patients suspected with pulmonary mycobacterial infection in Taiwan from 2002-2007. A total of 8024 mycobacterial isolates, including 5349 MTBC and 2675 NTM, were obtained from the 99 200 specimens in the study period.

Association of interleukin-4 promoter polymorphisms in Taiwanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Many factors have been implicated in the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, immune response and inflammation were suggested to play certain roles in the development and complications of T2DM. The aim of this study is to investigate the putative correlation between the promoter polymorphisms of interleukin-4 (IL-4), one of the immune-regulatory type 2 helper T-cell cytokines, and T2DM.

Up-regulation of interleukin-17 expression by human papillomavirus type 16 E6 in nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) 16/18 infection is associated with nonsmoking lung cancer. In this study, the authors investigated a putative correlation between interleukin (IL)-17 expression and HPV infection in clinical nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tissues and examined the effects of HPV infection on a human NSCLC cell line.

Methods: IL-17 expression was investigated in 79 NSCLC tumor tissues by immunohistochemistry.

Elevated circulatory MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels and activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objectives: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are suggested to play important roles in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study is to examine the MMPs expressions and activities in Taiwanese RA and SLE patients.

Design And Methods: Levels and activities of plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 were investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and zymography, respectively.

Ionic versus nonionic contrast media solvents used with an epirubicin-based agent for transarterial chemoembolization of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Purpose: To compare the stability of epirubicin-iodized oil emulsions prepared with ionic or nonionic contrast medium and to compare the efficacy of these emulsions in a prospective, randomized, controlled trial of transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Epirubicin-iodized oil emulsions prepared with ionic and nonionic contrast media was evaluated for stability with light microscopy and magnetic resonance imaging. One hundred ninety-seven patients with inoperable HCC were randomized to receive TACE with epirubicin, prepared either with ionic (control group, n = 99) or nonionic (experimental group, n = 98) contrast medium.

Suppression of hepatitis B viral gene expression by protein-tyrosine phosphatase PTPN3.

Protein-tyrosine phosphatase PTPN3 is a membrane-associated non-receptor protein-tyrosine phosphatase. PTPN3 contains a N-terminal FERM domain, a middle PDZ domain, and a C-terminal phosphatase domain. Upon co-expression of PTPN3, the level of human hepatitis B viral (HBV) RNAs, 3.

Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in oral cells after short-term stimulation and long-term usage of areca quid.

Background And Purpose: Arecoline, an areca quid (AQ) component, has been shown to inhibit the secretion and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in fibroblast cultures. This study assessed whether MMP-2 expression was inhibited in the saliva samples and tumor specimens of oral tumor patients with a long-term history of AQ consumption. The net effect of crude AQ extract (AQE) on MMP-2 expression by oral cells was also investigated.

Areca quid chewing enhances the expression of salivary matrix metalloproteinase-9.

Background And Purpose: The effects of areca quid (AQ) consumption on salivary matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which may participate in tumor invasion and metastasis remains unclear. This study assessed the change in salivary MMP-9 protein levels 2 hours after 5-minute AQ chewing stimulation (AQCS) in non-AQ users and the expression profile of this proteinase in saliva and tumor specimens of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients with a history of AQ use.

Methods: MMP-9 transcript was analyzed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Overexpression of Rac-1 small GTPase binding protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a fairly common malignancy in Taiwan and most countries of South Asia due to the popularity of areca quid use. In vitro studies have indicated that Rac proteins, a member of ras-related small GTPase protein family, can regulate cytoskeletal structures and activate signaling cascade and have the potential to transform cultured cells. However, Rac alteration during oral carcinogenesis in vivo has yet to be shown.

Areca nut extract treatment elicits the fibroblastoid morphological changes, actin re-organization and signaling activation in oral keratinocytes.

Background: Areca (named as betel) is an important etiological factor linked with the high prevalence of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in South-Asian countries. This in vitro study investigated the cellular changes and signaling activation in oral keratinocytes in response to areca nut extract (ANE) treatment.

Methods: Normal human oral keratinocyte (NHOK) and oral epidermoid carcinoma cell, Meng-1 (OECM-1) OSCC cell line were treated with variable dosages of ripen ANE.

Intercellular calcium waves mediate preferential cell growth toward the wound edge in polarized hepatic cells.

During liver regeneration, hepatocytes sense the damage and initiate proliferation of the quiescent cells through poorly understood mechanisms. Here, we have used cultured hepatic cells to study the roles played by intercellular calcium in mediating wound-healing processes. Well-differentiated and polarized Hep-G2 cells repaired an experimentally induced wound by induction of cell divisions.

Chromosomal changes in betel-associated oral squamous cell carcinomas and their relationship to clinical parameters.

To investigate the chromosomal imbalances that occur in oral carcinoma associated primarily with betel use and their clinical implications, we performed chromosomal analysis using comparative genomic hybridization on 47 patients with this disease. The most common gains of chromosome arms were 8q, 9q and 11q, and the most frequent losses were of chromosomal arms 3p and 4q. The clinical parameters significantly associated with the numbers of chromosomal imbalances per tumor were the age of the patients and nodal metastasis.

Multiple molecular alterations of FHIT in betel-associated oral carcinoma.

To determine the alterations of the FHIT (fragile histidine triad) gene in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), this study examined mutation, promoter methylation, mRNA transcription, and protein expression of FHIT in OSCC associated mostly with the use of betel and/or tobacco. Analyses of the coding exons (exons 5-9) identified a deletion of one base in intron 4 in one tumour and a deletion of exon 7 in two tumours. Using bisulphite genomic sequencing, 28% of the informative subjects exhibited promoter methylation.

Resistance to tamoxifen-induced apoptosis is associated with direct interaction between Her2/neu and cell membrane estrogen receptor in breast cancer.

Overexpression of Her2/neu is implicated in the development of resistance to the antiestrogen tamoxifen (TAM) that exerts its inhibitory effect through interaction with estrogen receptor (ER). Whereas Her2/neu and ER are believed to be important cell survival/death factors in human breast cancer cells, if and how they interact to confer resistance to hormone therapy is not known. This prompted us to investigate whether modulation of the effect of TAM occurs via the Her2/neu pathway and whether targeting the interaction between the Her2/neu pathway and the ER pathway is beneficial.