Association Between Elevation of Serum Alanine Aminotransferase and HBsAg Seroclearance After Nucleos(t)ide Analog Withdrawal.

Background: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) frequently elevates in chronic hepatitis B patients stopping nucleos(t)ide analogs (NAs).

Aims: To clarify the association between ALT elevation and HBsAg seroclearance after NA withdrawal.

Methods: This multicenter cohort study reviewed consecutive patients discontinuing NA between 2004/04/01 and 2022/05/24.

Primary Neuronal Culture and Transient Transfection.

Primary neuronal culture and transient transfection offer a pair of crucial tools for neuroscience research, providing a controlled environment to study the behavior, function, and interactions of neurons in vitro. These cultures can be used to investigate fundamental aspects of neuronal development and plasticity, as well as disease mechanisms. There are numerous methods of transient transfection, such as electroporation, calcium phosphate precipitation, or cationic lipid transfection.

PCR-based diagnosis and clinical insights into parasitic keratitis.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate demographic characteristics, predisposing factors, and clinical outcomes in patients with parasitic keratitis.

Methods: Medical records of patients with molecularly confirmed Acanthamoeba or microsporidia, identified through corneal scraping specimens (collected between September 21, 2017, and June 27, 2023), were reviewed. Demographic data, clinical profiles, such as symptom duration before confirmed diagnosis, antiviral treatment pre-diagnosis, contact lens use, tap water and soil contamination, ocular trauma, and treatment regimens, were analyzed.

MmuPV1 infection of Tmc6/Ever1 or Tmc8/Ever2 deficient FVB mice as a model of βHPV in typical epidermodysplasia verruciformis.

Typical epidermodysplasia verruciformis (EV) is a rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by an unusual susceptibility to infection with specific skin-trophic types of human papillomavirus, principally betapapillomaviruses, and a propensity for developing malignant skin tumors in sun exposed regions. Its etiology reflects biallelic loss-of-function mutations in TMC6 (EVER1), TMC8 (EVER2) or CIB1. A TMC6-TMC8-CIB1 protein complex in the endoplasmic reticulum is hypothesized to be a restriction factor in keratinocytes for βHPV infection.

Lessons from COVID-19 in Taiwan's long-term care facilities: A narrative review.

The coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately impacted long-term care facilities (LTCFs), revealing vulnerabilities due to residents' advanced age, comorbidities, and facility infrastructures. In Taiwan, the Central Epidemic Control Center implemented a range of strategies to protect LTCF residents. These included early containment measures to allow time for preparing pharmaceutical intervention, the establishment of infection prevention and control guidelines, the implementation of comprehensive screening and testing protocols, the prioritization of vaccination for both residents and staff, and the expansion of the national stockpile of oral antiviral agents.

A novel selective medium for isolation of Limosilactobacillus reuteri from dietary supplements.

Limosilactobacillus reuteri is a probiotic bacterium known for its numerous beneficial effects on human health and is commonly utilized in various dietary supplements. Previously, we encountered difficulties in isolating L. reuteri from retail dietary supplements containing complex probiotic compositions by using non-selective media such as de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe (MRS) agar.

Determination and validation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH4) in katsuobushi, plant-based food supplements, and cocoa bean shells using GC-MS/MS.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are primarily generated through the incomplete combustion or pyrolysis of organic materials in various industrial processes. Foods may become contaminated with environmental PAHs found in air, soil, or water, or through industrial food processing methods such as smoking, roasting, drying, and grilling. The Ministry of Health and Welfare in Taiwan has established maximum levels for benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and indicative values for BaP as well as PAH4 (the sum of benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene) in foods as operational guidelines.

Hidden invaders: intraspecific cryptic invasion and hybridization of Dolichoderus thoracicus (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in Taiwan.

Biological invasions pose substantial threats to global biodiversity, agriculture, and ecological stability. Among these, intraspecific cryptic invasions, characterized by the spread of nonnative genotypes within a species, present unique challenges for detection and management. Despite the well-documented influence of invasive ants on ecosystems, instances of intraspecific cryptic ant invasions have rarely been documented.

Human birth tissue products as a non-opioid medicine to inhibit post-surgical pain.

Pain after surgery causes significant suffering. Opioid analgesics cause severe side effects and accidental death. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop non-opioid therapies for managing post-surgical pain.

Impact of Aspect Ratio on Charge Carrier Dynamics and Efficiency Enhancement in CdSe/CdS Dot-in-Rod Nanostructures for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution.

We demonstrated that the aspect ratio (AR)-tunable CdSe/CdS dot-in-rod (DiR) nanostructures with quasi-type-II band structure were successively synthesized using the hot injection method. When the AR of CdSe/CdS DiR was tuned from 10 to 37, the exciton localization efficiency along the longitudinal CdS rod shell decreased from 57.9 to 15.

HC-HA/PTX3 from Human Amniotic Membrane Induced Differential Gene Expressions in DRG Neurons: Insights into the Modulation of Pain.

The biologics derived from human amniotic membranes (AMs) demonstrate potential pain-inhibitory effects in clinical settings. However, the molecular basis underlying this therapeutic effect remains elusive. HC-HA/PTX3 is a unique water-soluble regenerative matrix that is purified from human AMs.

Improving Medical Student Access to Nutrition During the Core Surgery Clerkship.

The rigorous demands of medical education create circumstances that can make it challenging to maintain a healthy diet. Evaluations from students at an urban medical school in the northeast U.S.

Visualization of Anion Vacancy Defect Annihilation in CZTSe Solar Cells by Hydrogen-Assisted Selenization with In Operando X-ray Nanoprobe Studies.

The traditional sulfur selenization process in CuZnSn(S,Se) (CZTSSe) solar cell fabrication often results in the creation of localized anion vacancies ( and ). These vacancies are considered harmful defects as they can trap carriers generated by light, leading to reduced solar cell efficiency. Moreover, concrete evidence has been lacking on the extent of the impact caused by these anion vacancies.

Detection of EGFR mutations in patients with suspected lung cancer using paired tissue-plasma testing: a prospective comparative study with plasma ddPCR assay.

Detecting EGFR mutations in plasma using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) assay offers a promising diagnostic tool for lung cancer patients. The performance of plasma-based ddPCR assay relative to traditional EGFR mutation testing in tissue biopsies among Asian patients with suspected lung cancer remains underexplored. Consecutive patients admitted for diagnostic workup for suspected lung cancer were recruited.

In Vivo Effect of Halicin on Methicillin-Resistant -Infected and Its Clinical Potential.

Recently, the high proportion of methicillin-resistant infections worldwide has highlighted the urgent need for novel antibiotics to combat this crisis. The recent progress in computational techniques for use in health and medicine, especially artificial intelligence (AI), has created new and potential approaches to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria, such as repurposing existing drugs, optimizing current agents, and designing novel compounds. Halicin was previously used as a diabetic medication, acting as a c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase (JNK) inhibitor, and has recently demonstrated unexpected antibacterial activity.

Intrinsic capacity transitions predict overall and cause-specific mortality, incident disability, and healthcare utilization.

Objectives: To develop an intrinsic capacity (IC) score and to investigate the association between IC transition with overall and cause-specific mortality, incident disability and healthcare utilization.

Design: Retrospective cohort study SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Data from 1852 respondents aged ≥ 65 years who completed the 1999 and 2003 surveys of the Taiwan Longitudinal Study on Aging were analyzed.

Measurements: Transitions of IC score were categorized into three groups: (1) Improved IC (IC >0), (2) Stable IC (IC = 0), (3) Worsened IC (IC <0).