A Validated Composite Score Demonstrates Potential Superiority to MELD-Based Systems in Predicting Short-Term Survival in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis-A Preliminary Study.

Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a severe complication in cirrhosis patients with ascites, leading to high mortality rates if not promptly treated. However, specific prediction models for SBP are lacking.

Aims: This study aimed to compare commonly used cirrhotic prediction models (CTP score, MELD, MELD-Na, iMELD, and MELD 3.

Bacteremia (Sepsis), Hepatorenal Syndrome, and Serum Creatinine Levels Rather than Types or Microbial Patterns Predicted the Short-Term Survival of Cirrhotic Patients Complicated with Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.

(1) Background: Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is a major and severe complication in cirrhosis patients with ascites. Over the years, advance in antibiotic treatment has led to changes in microbial patterns in some regions, including the emergence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases resistant (ESBL)-producing bacteria and an increase in Gram-positive bacteria (GPC). In addition, three SBP types (classic SBP, culture-negative neutrophilic ascites (CNNA), and monomicrobial non-neutrocytic bacterascites (MNB)), may also have different prognoses.

GPR97 triggers inflammatory processes in human neutrophils via a macromolecular complex upstream of PAR2 activation.

Neutrophils play essential anti-microbial and inflammatory roles in host defense, however, their activities require tight regulation as dysfunction often leads to detrimental inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here we show that the adhesion molecule GPR97 allosterically activates CD177-associated membrane proteinase 3 (mPR3), and in conjugation with several protein interaction partners leads to neutrophil activation in humans. Crystallographic and deletion analysis of the GPR97 extracellular region identified two independent mPR3-binding domains.

Enhanced Virulence of by : Evidence in Clinical Bloodstream Infections and Infected Zebrafish Embryos.

Coinfection with and results in higher mortality in animal studies. However, the pathogenesis and interplay between and in bloodstream infections (BSIs) is unclear. This study determines the clinical features and outcomes of mixed / (CA/SA) BSIs and biofilm formation on pathogenesis during coinfection.

Prevalence of drug resistance mutations in HIV-infected individuals with low-level viraemia under combination antiretroviral therapy: an observational study in a tertiary hospital in Northern Taiwan, 2017-19.

Background: Effective ART is crucial for combating the HIV pandemic. Clinically, plasma viral load monitoring to achieve virological suppression is the guide for an optimal ART. The presence of low-level viraemia (LLV) below the definition level of virological failure is a risk factor for ART failure.

Association between CAI microsatellite, multilocus sequence typing, and clinical significance within Candida albicans isolates.

Candida albicans bloodstream infection (BSI) is epidemiologically important because of its increasing frequency and serious outcome. Strain typing and delineation of the species are essential for understanding the phylogenetic relationship and clinical significance. Microsatellite CAI genotyping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were performed on 285 C.

Deep Cutaneous Neoscytalidium dimidiatum Infection: Successful Outcome with Amphotericin B Therapy.

Phaeohyphomycosis is a term used to describe a heterogenous group of cutaneous and systemic mycotic infections caused by melanized fungi. Many fungi have been reported as pathogens of this disease. The disease spectrum ranges from superficial cutaneous infections, deep cutaneous infections, to systemic infections with internal organ involvement.

DST659 genotype of Candida albicans showing positive association between biofilm formation and dominance in Taiwan.

Based on multiple locus sequence typing, we previously found that DST659 and DST693 were dominant genotypes of Candida albicans among the bloodstream isolates at Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou. Biofilm-forming activity, which is critical for C. albicans virulence, probably contributed to the dominance of antifungal sensitive isolates in hospital.

Risk factors and outcomes of candidemia caused by Candida parapsilosis complex in a medical center in northern Taiwan.

To investigate the risk factors and outcomes associated with Candida parapsilosis candidemia, a retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary medical center in northern Taiwan. Patients with C. parapsilosis candidemia and corresponding controls with C.

Prognostic implication of EGFR gene mutations and histological classification in patients with resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Introduction: The prognostic value of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations and the correlation between EGFR mutations and the new International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer/American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society (IASLC/ATS/ERS) histological classification remain controversial. The current study aimed to investigate the pure prognostic role of EGFR mutations in treatment-naïve patients with resected stage I lung adenocarcinoma.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 373 patients with stage I pulmonary non-small-cell lung cancer who underwent complete surgical resection between January 2010 and May 2014.

Tigecycline-based versus sulbactam-based treatment for pneumonia involving multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii complex.

Background: The treatment options for pneumonia involving multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-Acinetobacter baumannii (MDR Acb) complex are limited, and the optimal treatment has not been established.

Methods: To compare the efficacy of tigecycline-based with sulbactam (or ampicillin/sulbactam)-based therapy for pneumonia involving MDR Acb complex, we conducted a retrospective study comparing 84 tigecycline-treated adult patients during the period August 2007 to March 2010 with 84 sulbactam or ampicillin/sulbactam-treated adult patients during the period September 2004 to July 2007. Both groups had the matched Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score and received treatment for at least 7 days.

[Factors influencing adherence to antibiotic therapy in patients with acute infections].

Background: Taking antibiotics in strict adherence to physician prescriptions is crucial for maintaining the stability of the drug concentration in the blood and for achieving the best therapeutic effects. The increasing antimicrobial resistance in recent decades has led the Ministry of Health and Welfare to promote the rational use of antibiotics and the use of a computer monitoring system to control the use of antibiotics in hospitals. Although non-adherence is considered as the major factor contributing to antimicrobial resistance, patient non-adherence to antibiotic prescriptions is an issue that has been largely overlooked.

Serratia marcescens meningitis: epidemiology, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes.

Background/purpose: Serratia marcescens is a rare pathogen of central nervous system infections. This study was to investigate the epidemiology, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes of S. marcescens meningitis.