Longitudinal profiles of oral microbiome in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and their prognostic implications.

Background: Oral microbiome has been associated with various cancers, including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), but its role in cancer treatment and prognosis remains largely unknown. This study aims to address the dynamic changes in oral microbiome following cancer treatment and their prognostic implications in NPC patients.

Patients And Methods: Unstimulated whole saliva samples were collected from 23 NPC patients before and after treatment, with an average of 2.

Ethanolamine-induced assembly of microcompartments is required for virulence.

Unlabelled: Many bacteria metabolize ethanolamine as a nutrient source through cytoplasmic organelles named bacterial microcompartments (BMCs). Here we investigated the molecular assembly, regulation, and function of BMCs in a Gram-negative oral pathobiont that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The genome harbors a conserved ethanolamine utilization () locus with 21 genes that encode several putative BMC shell proteins and a two-component signal transduction system (TCS), in addition to the enzymes for ethanolamine transport and catabolism.

Ethanolamine-induced assembly of microcompartments is required for virulence.

Many bacteria metabolize ethanolamine as a nutrient source through cytoplasmic organelles named bacterial microcompartments (BMCs). Here we investigated the molecular assembly, regulation, and function of BMCs in - a Gram-negative oral pathobiont that is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The genome harbors a conserved ethanolamine utilization () locus with 21 genes that encode several putative BMC shell proteins and a two-component signal transduction system (TCS), in addition to the enzymes for ethanolamine transport and catabolism.

Outcome Analysis of Solitary Extramedullary Plasmacytoma in the Head and Neck: A Clinical Perspective.

Introduction: Solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas (SEP) of the head and neck are rare and pose unique challenges. This study aimed to explore the clinical spectrum and treatment outcomes of these neoplasms using multimodal management.

Methods: A retrospective review of 13 patients with SEP of the head and neck.

Field performance of 15 rain gardens in different cities in Taiwan.

Rain gardens are widely used for low impact development (LID) or as a nature-based solution (NbS). They help to reduce runoff, mitigate hot temperatures, create habitats for plants and insects, and beautify landscapes. Rain gardens are increasingly being established in urban areas.

The impact of ZTE-based MR attenuation correction compared to CT-AC in F-FBPA PET before boron neutron capture therapy.

Tumor-to-normal ratio (T/N) measurement of F-FBPA is crucial for patient eligibility to receive boron neutron capture therapy. This study aims to compare the difference in standard uptake value ratios on brain tumors and normal brains using PET/MR ZTE and atlas-based attenuation correction with the current standard PET/CT attenuation correction. Regarding the normal brain uptake, the difference was not significant between PET/CT and PET/MR attenuation correction methods.

The potential of integrating stereotactic ablative radiotherapy techniques with hyperfractionation for lung cancer.

Background: Limited literature exists on the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) techniques with hyperfractionated regimens for patients with lung cancer. This study aims to assess whether the SABR technique with hyperfractionation can potentially reduce lung toxicity.

Methods: We utilized the linear-quadratic model to find the optimal fraction to maximize the tumor biological equivalent dose (BED) to normal-tissue BED ratio.

Prognostic assessment of F-boronophenylalanine positron emission tomography (BPA-PET) in salvage boron neutron capture therapy for malignant brain tumors.

Background: Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) stands out as a propitious anti-cancer modality. F-boronophenylalanine positron emission tomography (BPA-PET) holds the potential to ascertain the concentration of BPA within the tumor, enabling meticulous treatment planning and outcome evaluation. However, no studies have been conducted on comparing the outcomes of those treated with BNCT to those who did not undergo this therapy.

Morphology, Not Only Volume: A Study on Empty Nose Syndrome and Inferior Turbinates.

Objectives: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is an underdiagnosed but burdensome clinical condition. Studies that have addressed the impact of remnant inferior turbinate volume (ITV) on ENS are scarce. We aimed to evaluate the impact of ITV and phenotyping on the severity and presentation of ENS.

Haemolysin Ahh1 secreted from Aeromonas dhakensis activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages and mediates severe soft tissue infection.

Severe soft tissue infections caused by Aeromonas dhakensis, such as necrotizing fasciitis or cellulitis, are prevalent in southern Taiwan and around the world. However, the mechanism by which A. dhakensis causes tissue damage remains unclear.

The use of multicomponent reactions in the development of bis-boronic acids for the detection of β-sialic acid.

Sialic acid (SA) is a naturally occurring monosaccharide found in glycoproteins and glycolipids. Changes in the expression of SA are associated with several diseases; thus, the detection of SA is of great significance for biological research, cancer diagnosis, and treatment. Boronic acid analogs have emerged as a promising tool for detecting sugars such as SA due to its reversible covalent bonding ability.

The respiratory enzyme complex Rnf is vital for metabolic adaptation and virulence in .

This paper illuminates the significant question of how the oral commensal adapts to the metabolically changing environments of several extra-oral sites such as placenta and colon to promote various diseases as an opportunistic pathogen. We demonstrate here that the highly conserved itrogen-ixation complex, commonly known as Rnf complex, is key to fusobacterial metabolic adaptation and virulence. Genetic disruption of this Rnf complex causes global defects in polymicrobial interaction, biofilm formation, cell growth and morphology, hydrogen sulfide production, and ATP synthesis.

Organocatalytic Si-C Bond Functionalization-Enabled Atroposelective Synthesis of Axially Chiral Biaryl Siloxanes.

Chiral organosilanes are valuable chemical entities in the development of functional organic materials, asymmetric catalysis, and medicinal chemistry. As an important strategy for constructing chiral organosilanes, the asymmetric functionalization of the Si-C bond typically relies on transition-metal catalysis. Herein, we present an efficient method for atroposelective synthesis of biaryl siloxane atropisomers via organocatalytic Si-C bond functionalization of dinaphthosiloles with silanol nucleophiles.

The respiratory enzyme complex Rnf is vital for metabolic adaptation and virulence in .

A prominent oral commensal and opportunistic pathogen, can traverse to extra-oral sites such as placenta and colon, promoting adverse pregnancy outcomes and colorectal cancer, respectively. How this anaerobe sustains many metabolically changing environments enabling its virulence potential remains unclear. Informed by our genome-wide transposon mutagenesis, we report here that the highly conserved Rnf complex, encoded by the gene cluster, is key to fusobacterial metabolic adaptation and virulence.

Elevated Serum Aspergillus Fumigatus-Specific Immunoglobulin G in Type 2 Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

-specific immunoglobulin G (Af-sIgG) has been applied to diagnose allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, a hypersensitivity reaction to the colonization of the fungus in the lower airways. In the upper airways, it has been reported to be involved in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis and local fungal rhinosinusitis. However, in primary chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), a more common upper airway disease, the role of Af-sIgG remains unclear.

Lymphocytopenia and survival after whole-brain radiotherapy in patients with small-cell lung cancer.

Background: To investigate whether whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) decreases lymphocyte counts and evaluate the impact of treatment-related lymphopenia on survival in patients with brain metastasis.

Methods: Medical records from 60 small-cell lung cancer patients treated with WBRT from January 2010 to December 2018 were included in the study. Total lymphocyte count (TLC) was obtained pre and post treatment (within 1 month).

NeuTHOR Station-A Novel Integrated Platform for Monitoring BNCT Clinical Treatment, Animal and Cell Irradiation Study at THOR.

(1) Background: A well-established Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) facility includes many essential systems, which are the epithermal neutron beam system, on-line monitoring system (OMS), QA/QC (quality assurance or quality control) system, boron concentration (BC) measurement system, and treatment planning system (TPS). Accurate data transmission, monitoring, and deposition among these systems are of vital importance before, during, and after clinical, animal, and cell BNCT irradiation. This work developed a novel integrated platform NeuTHOR Station (NeuTHORS) for BNCT at Tsing Hua Open-pool Reactor (THOR).

Physical Chemistry Study of Collagen-Based Multilayer Films.

The surface properties of a biomaterial play an important role in cell behavior, e.g., recolonization, proliferation, and migration.

MRI features of pediatric atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors and medulloblastomas of the posterior fossa.

Background: Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) occurs at a younger age and is associated with a worse prognosis than medulloblastoma; however, these two tumor entities are mostly indistinguishable on neuroimaging. The aim of our study was to differentiate AT/RT and medulloblastoma based on their clinical and MRI features to enhance treatment planning and outcome prediction.

Methods: From 2005-2021, we retrospectively enrolled 16 patients with histopathologically diagnosed AT/RT and 57 patients with medulloblastoma at our institute.