High prevalence of Streptococcus agalactiae from vaginas of women in Taiwan and its mechanisms of macrolide and quinolone resistance.

Background/purpose: Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS), is the most common pathogen causing infections among perinatal women and neonatal babies. Nonetheless, there are few studies on the occurrence of GBS among the pregnant women and the mechanisms of GBS resistance to quinolones and macrolides in Taiwan.

Methods: GBS were isolated from vaginas of the pregnant and non-pregnant symptomatic women in Taiwan.

Myeloperoxidase in chronic kidney disease: role of visceral fat.

Aim: Visceral fat is more significantly correlated with inflammation markers and oxidative stress than is subcutaneous fat. Myeloperoxidase is one inflammatory signal secreted after polymorphonuclear leukocytes are stimulated. However, few studies discuss the correlation between visceral fat and the inflammatory response in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Decreased anaerobic performance and hormone adaptation after expedition to Peak Lenin.

Background: The change of anaerobic exercise abilities during and after a high-altitude expedition or hypoxic exposure is not well studied. To evaluate the effects of an extreme-altitude expedition on anaerobic performance, the 10-second supramaximal test and endocrine hormones were evaluated before and after an expedition to Peak Lenin.

Methods: Four subjects (3 male and 1 female, age (30.