Non-invasive glucose extraction by a single polarization rotator system in patients with diabetes.

This study utilizes a Mueller matrix-based system to extract accurate glucose levels from human fingertips, addressing challenges in skin complexity. Integration of domain knowledge and data science aims to enhance prediction accuracy using a Random Forest model. The primary goal is to improve glucose level predictions by selecting effective features based on the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient (PPMCC).

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.

Characteristics and Prevalence of Vancomycin-variable Enterococcus faecium bacteremia in southern Taiwan.

Background: Vancomycin-variable enterococci (VVE) are vanA-carrying Enterococcus faecium that are phenotypically susceptible to vancomycin and can only be detected using molecular methods, leading to the possibility of treatment failure and posing threats to infection control. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of VVE and its associated clinical risk factors.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in two hospitals in southern Taiwan.

Association Between Trimethylamine N-oxide and Adverse Kidney Outcomes and Overall Mortality in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Context: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the major contributor to chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). The influence of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) on kidney outcomes in T2D remains unclear.

Objective: To examine the association between fasting serum TMAO levels and adverse kidney outcomes in patients with T2D.

Exploring the Relationship between Gut Microbiome Composition and Blood Indole-3-acetic Acid in Hemodialysis Patients.

Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), a protein-bound uremic toxin resulting from gut microbiota-driven tryptophan metabolism, increases in hemodialysis (HD) patients. IAA may induce endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress, elevating cardiovascular and cognitive risk in HD patients. However, research on the microbiome-IAA association is limited.

Effects of Different LED Light Spectra on Growth and Immunity of the Japanese Eel () and Giant Mottled Eel ().

Indoor recirculating aquaculture systems make light control possible and enable the usage of specific coloured lights to promote the growth and immunity of aquaculture species. Five different LED wavelengths (white light [460 nm], red light [622 nm], green light [517 nm], blue light [467 nm], and the dark) were used in this study to evaluate growth and immunity in the glass eel stage of two high-valued anguillid species, Japanese eel () and giant mottled eel (). There were no significant differences in growth of the Japanese eel among the groups after 12 weeks of feeding ( > 0.

Predicting Adverse Recanalization Therapy Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Using Characteristic Gut Microbiota.

Recanalization therapy is the most effective treatment for eligible patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Gut microbiota are involved in the pathological mechanisms and outcomes of AIS. However, the association of gut microbiota features with adverse recanalization therapy outcomes remains unclear.

Potentials of organic tellurium-containing compound AS101 to overcome carbapenemase-producing Escherichia coli.

Background: The issue of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli was aggravated yearly. The previous studies reported the varied but critical epidemiology of carbapenem-resistant E. coli among which the carbapenemase-producing strains were regarded as one of the most notorious issues.

Circulating Short-Chain Fatty Acids and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Severity in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

(1) Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a major global health concern. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD has been related to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, the relationship between short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and NAFLD severity is ambiguous in T2D subjects.

Comparative Gut Microbiome Differences between High and Low Aortic Arch Calcification Score in Patients with Chronic Diseases.

Gut dysbiosis can induce chronic inflammation and contribute to atherosclerosis and vascular calcification. The aortic arch calcification (AoAC) score is a simple, noninvasive, and semiquantitative assessment tool to evaluate vascular calcification on chest radiographs. Few studies have discussed the relationship between gut microbiota and AoAC.

Subgingival Microbiome in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients with Periodontitis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis are suggested to be closely linked based on microbial dysbiosis, but limited subgingival bacteria have been proven in the pathogenesis of RA. We enrolled 30 RA patients and 25 controls and divided them into three groups with matched age, gender, and diabetes statuses: group AM (all of the matched participants), group PD (periodontally diseased), and group PH (periodontally healthy). Their subgingival microbial composition was determined by V3-V4 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

The phenomenon of staphylococcal interbacterial aggregate and net structures (SIAN) in community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CA-MRSA/J.

Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) usually causes skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), but occasionally causes invasive infections with a broad range of manifestations. Virulence factors and pathogenesis of CA-MRSA have been investigated in details with genotype ST8/SCCmecIVa (USA300), which first emerged in the United States. However, CA-MRSA evolves rapidly, with different clones dominating in different world regions; their pathogenesis remains unclear.

The first invasive infection in Taiwan.

, a multidrug resistant pathogenic yeast, has spread worldwide and caused several outbreaks in healthcare settings. Here, we report the first case of candidemia in Taiwan in a patient with a two-month history of hospitalization in Vietnam. We performed further investigation on the isolate from the present case as well as the previously reported isolate identified from a wound in 2018 in Taiwan, which was the first case reported in Taiwan.

Interrelationship of Gut Microbiota, Obesity, Body Composition and Insulin Resistance in Asians with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) has been an important health issue in the world, and insulin resistance (IR) is one of the characteristics of MS, increasing the risk for the onset and poor prognosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). However, the interactional effect of obesity or abnormal body composition on the correlation between gut microbiota and IR in T2D patients is not well-explored. This cross-sectional study used a body composition monitor to evaluate lean tissue mass and fat tissue mass.

sp. nov., isolated from human blood.

A novel coagulase-negative strain (NTUH-S172) was isolated from human blood culture in Taiwan with preliminary identification of . 16S rRNA gene analysis and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) showed that NTUH-S172 was most closely related to . The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with the whole genome sequence were <95 % and<70 % when compared to the related species.

Synergistic Combination of AS101 and Azidothymidine against Clinical Isolates of Carbapenem-Resistant .

Owing to the over usage of carbapenems, carbapenem resistance has become a vital threat worldwide, and, thus, the World Health Organization announced the carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) as the critical priority for antibiotic development in 2017. In the current situation, combination therapy would be one solution against CRE. Azidothymidine (AZT), a thymidine analog, has demonstrated its synergistically antibacterial activities with other antibiotics.

Perceptions of tourists of the resources, ecological service functions and recreation value of the Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area.

This study surveyed visitor perceptions of the resources of the Guanwu National Forest Recreation Area (GNFRA) in Taiwan', their perceptions toward the ecosystem service functions of the GNFRA, their expectations and opinions on its management, and their recreational activities. Independent sample t-tests and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to examine the influences of the backgrounds of respondents on their perceptions toward the ecosystem service functions of the GNFRA. The importance-performance analysis (IPA) method was used to explore evaluations by tourists on the management of the GNRFA.

In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of AS101 against Carbapenem-Resistant .

The increasing trend of carbapenem-resistant (CRAB) worldwide has become a concern, limiting therapeutic alternatives and increasing morbidity and mortality rates. The immunomodulation agent ammonium trichloro (dioxoethylene-O,O'-) tellurate (AS101) was repurposed as an antimicrobial agent against CRAB. Between 2016 and 2018, 27 CRAB clinical isolates were collected in Taiwan.

Gut Microbiota and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The gut microbiota may contribute to the onset and progression of T2D and CVD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the gut microbiota and subclinical CVD in T2D patients.

Potentially conjugative plasmids harboring Tn6636, a multidrug-resistant and composite mobile element, in Staphylococcus aureus.

Objectives: This study aimed to provide detailed genetic characterization of Tn6636, a multidrug-resistant and composite mobile element, in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus.

Methods: A total of 112 ermB-positive methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 224 ermB-positive methicillin-resistant S.

Emergence of aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia-positive enterococci with non-high-level gentamicin resistance mediated by IS1216V: adaptation to decreased aminoglycoside usage in Taiwan.

Objectives: To explore the mechanisms mediating the different levels of gentamicin resistance in enterococci.

Methods: Susceptibility testing with gentamicin and PCR of resistance determinants were performed in 149 enterococcal isolates. Genetic relatedness was characterized by MLST and PFGE analysis.

Differences in the Microbial Composition of Hemodialysis Patients Treated with and without β-Blockers.

β-blockers are commonly prescribed to treat cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients. Beyond the pharmacological effects, β-blockers have potential impacts on gut microbiota, but no study has investigated the effect in hemodialysis patients. Hence, we aim to investigate the gut microbiota composition difference between β-blocker users and nonusers in hemodialysis patients.

Gut Microbiota and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Severity in Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains an important health issue worldwide. The increasing prevalence of NAFLD is linked to type 2 diabetes (T2D). The gut microbiota is associated with the development of NAFLD and T2D.

Gut microbiota compositions and metabolic functions in type 2 diabetes differ with glycemic durability to metformin monotherapy.

Aims: The metabolic derangements in type 2 diabetes have been attributed to compositional changes in the gut microbiota. Metformin, the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, has been found to modulate the gut microbiota. However, no literature has reported the associations between the composition of the gut microbiota and glycemic durability to metformin monotherapy.