Gastroesophageal reflux disease may causally associate with the increased atrial fibrillation risk: evidence from two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses.

Background: The risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) is increased in individuals with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), according to observational research. The causal significance of this association is still unclear. This study sought to assess GERD's role as a potential contributing factor in AF.

Identification and Validation of Novel Metastasis-Related Immune Gene Signature in Breast Cancer.

Background: Distant metastasis remains the leading cause of death among patients with breast cancer (BRCA). The process of cancer metastasis involves multiple mechanisms, including compromised immune system. However, not all genes involved in immune function have been comprehensively identified.

[Breeding-system comparison between alien invasive Solanum rostratum and its non-invasive congener S. americanum].

Solanum rostratum is a severely invasive alien plant species in China. Using four S. rostratum populations and non-invasive congener S.

CXC Chemokine Receptor Type 4 Antagonism Ameliorated Allograft Fibrosis in Rat Kidney Transplant Model.

Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the effects of CXC chemokine receptor type 4 and stromal cell-derived factor 1 signaling in the progression of chronic allograft nephropathy in a rat model.

Materials And Methods: Experimental rats were divided into 3 groups: Lewis-to-Lewis isograft transplant (group A), Fisher 344 rat-to-Lewis allograft transplant with immunosuppressant cyclosporine (group B), and Fisher 344 rat-to-Lewis allograft transplant treated with cyclosporine and the CXC chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist AMD3100 (1 mg/kg/d) (group C). On day 90 after the operation, renal graft function, proteinuria, and histologic Banff score were measured.

Complete mitochondrial genome of Gnathopogon taeniellus (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae).

The complete mitochondrial genome of Gnathopogon taeniellus was first determined in this study. It is 16,596 bp in length, contains 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNA genes, 22 tRNA genes and one control region in the typical vertebrate gene order and transcriptional direction. There are total of 29 bp short overlaps and 34 bp non-coding intergenic spacers were found in the mitogenome.

Association between non-atopic hand eczema and interleukin-13 gene polymorphism in Taiwanese nursing population.

Chronic hand eczema is an important occupational skin disease with atopic dermatitis (AD) and wet work being the most important risk factors. This study was launched to analyse the potential association between AD-related inflammation genes and development of non-atopic hand eczema among nurses in University Hospital. Atopic eczema, non-atopic hand dermatitis and control groups were identified.

Arthritis as an important determinant for psoriatic patients to develop severe vascular events in Taiwan: a nation-wide study.

Background: Psoriasis is an important systemic inflammatory disease that often leads to severe vascular diseases. This study was launched to determine if joint involvement affects incidence of vascular comorbidities in psoriatic patients. In addition, potential vasculo-protective effects of methotrexate in psoriatic patients were also evaluated.

Psoriatic patients with diabetes are prone to develop digestive organ cancers: a population-based study in Taiwan.

Background: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin condition. Epidemiology studies from different parts of the world have shown that psoriasis is associated with different components of metabolic syndrome. The association between psoriasis and development of cancer has not yet been clearly established.

Lymphopaenia, anti-Ro/anti-RNP autoantibodies, renal involvement and cyclophosphamide use correlate with increased risk of herpes zoster in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Herpes zoster occurs with increased frequency in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate clinical and laboratory risk factors associated with development of herpes zoster in patients with SLE. A retrospective case-control study was performed in a population of patients with SLE.

Methotrexate reduces the occurrence of cerebrovascular events among Taiwanese psoriatic patients: a nationwide population-based study.

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of methotrexate and retinoid on risks for developing cerebrovascular disease among psoriatic patients. A population-based nested case-control study was conducted using the Taiwanese National Health Insurance database.

Distinct SPINK5 and IL-31 polymorphisms are associated with atopic eczema and non-atopic hand dermatitis in Taiwanese nursing population.

The term 'hand dermatitis' describes inflammatory skin condition localized to the hands. Nurses working at hospital settings are prone to develop hand dermatitis. The current study aimed to evaluate whether certain genetic polymorphisms were associated with the development of atopic eczema or non-atopic hand dermatitis in Taiwanese population.

Hand dermatitis among university hospital nursing staff with or without atopic eczema: assessment of risk factors.

Background: Nurses are prone to develop hand dermatitis. Although an atopic constitution has been identified as a genetic risk factor, the behavioural risk factors associated with hand dermatitis in wet work conditions have not been fully explored.

Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the impact of atopic eczema (fulfilling the diagnostic criteria during the past 1 year) on the occurrence of hand dermatitis and to identify the behavioural risk factors among non-atopic nurses with hand dermatitis.

Prevalence of adult atopic dermatitis among nursing staff in a Taiwanese medical center: a pilot study on validation of diagnostic questionnaires.

Background: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing dermatosis. Previous studies have focused mostly on pediatric patients, and investigations emphasizing adult AD have been limited.

Objective: We set out to determine the 1-year prevalence and evaluate the validity of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and United Kingdom Working Party (UKWP) AD questionnaires of adult AD in Taiwan.

The effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization of resectable hepatocellular carcinoma on clinical and economic outcomes.

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant cancers in the world. The effect of preoperative transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) for resectable HCC is still controversial and cost-associated treatments are unknown.

Methods: We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes and resource utilization after liver resection between patients who underwent preoperative TACE (TACE-LR group, n = 114) and those who did not (LR group, n = 236).

Hand eczema among University Hospital nursing staff: identification of high-risk sector and impact on quality of life.

Background: Hand eczema is a commonly encountered occupational disease and has a negative impact on life quality.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the specific conditions that may pose a higher risk for occurrence of hand eczema and evaluate the impact of hand eczema on life quality.

Method: Nursing staff from a university hospital were invited to participate in a cross-sectional study.

The spliced variant of hepatitis B virus protein, HBSP, interacts with Bcl-2/Bcl-xl in vitro and induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

We have recently reported that the naturally occurring spliced variant of Hepatitis B virus protein, HBSP, displayed proapoptotic activity through its BH3 domain. To investigate whether the BH3 domain in HBSP interacted with Bcl-2 family of proteins, HBSP and Bcl-2 family of proteins were cloned and expressed in our mammalian two-hybrid system. Interaction assays were carried out in HepG2 cells and measured by the activity of the reporter gene product luciferase.

Molecular biology changes associated with LRRK2 mutations in Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss in the substantia nigra. The recent discovery of leucine-rich-repeat kinase 2 gene (LRRK2) mutations in PD is significant because these mutations are the most common cause of autosomal dominant PD. Furthermore, a common recurrent mutation (G2019S) is associated with a significant proportion of nonfamilial PD, and a polymorphic variant (G2385R) has been found to increase the risk in the Asian race.

Cellular apoptosis induced by replication of hepatitis B virus: possible link between viral genotype and clinical outcome.

HBV remains one of the major pathogens of liver diseases but the outcomes as inflammation, cirrhosis and cancer of the liver are greatly related to different viral genotypes. The aim of this study was to assess the pro-apoptotic effect of HBSP from three HBV genotypes on liver derived cells. HepG2 cells were applied in our system and transfected by HBV genotype A, B, and C.

The HBSP gene is expressed during HBV replication, and its coded BH3-containing spliced viral protein induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

The mechanisms of liver injury in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are defined to be due not to the direct cytopathic effects of viruses, but to the host immune response to viral proteins expressed by infected hepatocytes. We showed here that transfection of mammalian cells with a replicative HBV genome causes extensive cytopathic effects, leading to the death of infected cells. While either necrosis or apoptosis or both may contribute to the death of infected cells, results from flow cytometry suggest that apoptosis plays a major role in HBV-induced cell death.

Adhesion contact kinetics of HepG2 cells during Hepatitis B virus replication: Involvement of SH3-binding motif in HBX.

It has been shown that Hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication directly alters the expression of key cytoskeleton-associated proteins which play key roles in mechanochemical signal transduction. Nevertheless, little is known on the correlation between HBV replication and the subsequent adhesion mechanism of HBV-replicating cells. In this study, it is demonstrated that the lag time of adhesion contact evolution of HepG2 cells with HBV replication is significantly increased by two times compared to that of normal HepG2 cell on collagen coated substrate.

Human hepatitis B virus X protein induces apoptosis in HepG2 cells: role of BH3 domain.

The smallest protein of hepatitis B virus, HBX, has been implicated in the development of liver diseases by interfering with normal cellular processes. Its role in cell proliferation has been unclear as both pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic activities have been reported. We showed molecular evidence that HBX induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells.