The role of vestibular function tests in nontuberculous mycobacterial otomastoiditis: A case report.

Background: Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), an extremely rare pathogen causing cervicofacial infections, may result in permanent hearing impairment or intracranial complications. Due to the lack of specific manifestations during the initial onset of NTM otomastoiditis, physicians may misdiagnose it as cholesteatoma or other common bacterial infections.

Patient Concerns: A 44-year-old male who complained of left-sided aural fullness, otalgia, and dizziness for 2 months.

Human diphyllobothriosis in Taiwan: A review of cases and molecular evidence of .

Diphyllobothriosis is an infectious disease caused by the consumption of raw freshwater or marine fish containing larvae of broad tapeworms (Diphyllobothriidae). In the present study, we critically reviewed all cases of human diphyllobothriosis reported from Taiwan, including unpublished reports from hospitals in Taipei. Genotyping based on mitochondrial DNA marker (1) confirmed that two of the recent cases were caused by , which is not native to Taiwan and was probably imported with Pacific salmon infected with larvae of .

Persistence and dynamic structures of diverse cephalosporinase genes in nontyphoidal Salmonella in cross-sectional surveillance in Taiwan.

Objectives: Nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) is a major foodborne pathogen causing from acute gastroenteritis to bacteraemia, particularly in paediatric and elderly patients. Antimicrobial resistance of NTS, especially resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, has emerged over the past decades.

Methods: Thirteen NTS isolates resistant to ceftriaxone or cefotaxime were collected from a teaching hospital in Taipei, and another three from a tertiary hospital, in New Taipei City, Taiwan, from September 2018 to December 2019.

Outcomes after surgery in patients with and without recent influenza: a nationwide population-based study.

Background: The influence of recent influenza infection on perioperative outcomes is not completely understood.

Method: Using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Data from 2008 to 2013, we conducted a surgical cohort study, which included 20,544 matched patients with a recent history of influenza and 10,272 matched patients without. The main outcomes were postoperative complications and mortality.

Functional Plasmon-Activated Water Increases Abundance in Gut Microbiota to Ameliorate Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction, as indicated by epithelial hyperpermeability and high levels of mucosal-associated bacteria. Changes in gut microbiota may be correlated with IBD pathogenesis. Additionally, microbe-based treatments could mitigate clinical IBD symptoms.

Correlation between antibiotic consumption and resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a teaching hospital implementing an antimicrobial stewardship program: A longitudinal observational study.

Background/purpose: The rapid emergence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa resistance made selecting antibiotics more challenge. Antimicrobial stewardship programs (ASPs) are urging to implant to control the P. aeruginosa resistance.

Development of a combination antibiogram for empirical treatments of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a university-affiliated teaching hospital.

Introduction: The significantly higher mortality rate in the critical illness patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) infection is linked to inappropriate selecting of empirical treatment. Traditional local antibiogram provides clinicians the resistant rate of a single antimicrobial agent to the pathogen in the specific setting. The information is valuable to the clinicians in selecting suitable empirical antibiotic therapy.

Minimally Invasive Surgical Treatment of Extensive Spinal Epidural Abscess With Unilateral Laminotomy for Bilateral Decompression Using an Ultrasonic Bone Curette: A Technique Note.

Background: An extensive spinal epidural abscess is a devasting infection of the multiple-level epidural space. Emergent surgical decompression is required to remove the abscess and decompress the affected spinal cord. This study evaluated the efficacy of unilateral laminotomy for bilateral decompression (ULBD) in the treatment of extensive spinal epidural abscesses.

Using anti-malondialdehyde-modified peptide adduct autoantibodies in serum of taiwanese women to diagnose primary Sjogren's syndrome.

Background: Sjogren's syndrome (SS) is a systemic autoimmune disease featured with a dry mouth and dry eyes. Several autoantibodies, including anti-SSA, anti-SSB, antinuclear antibodies can be detected in patients with SS. Oxidation-specific epitopes (OSEs) can be formed from malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified protein adducts and trigger chronic inflammation.

A multitope SARS-CoV-2 vaccine provides long-lasting B cell and T cell immunity against Delta and Omicron variants.

BackgroundThe Delta and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 are currently responsible for breakthrough infections due to waning immunity. We report phase I/II trial results of UB-612, a multitope subunit vaccine containing S1-RBD-sFc protein and rationally designed promiscuous peptides representing sarbecovirus conserved helper T cell and cytotoxic T lymphocyte epitopes on the nucleocapsid (N), membrane (M), and spike (S2) proteins.MethodWe conducted a phase I primary 2-dose (28 days apart) trial of 10, 30, or 100 μg UB-612 in 60 healthy young adults 20 to 55 years old, and 50 of them were boosted with 100 μg of UB-612 approximately 7 to 9 months after the second dose.

Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome after hemorrhoidectomy: A case report.

Background: Streptococcal toxic-shock syndrome after hemorrhoidectomy is rare but may be catastrophic. Group A streptococci have produced various surface proteins and exotoxins due to genetic changes to fight the human body's immune response. Though life threatening infection after hemorrhoidectomy rarely occurs, all surgeons should be aware of the potential complications of severe sepsis after hemorrhoidectomy and keep in mind their clinical presenting features in order to diagnose early and administer appropriate and effective therapeutic drugs early.

Case report of an unusual hepatic abscess caused by Actinomyces odontolyticus in a patient with human immunodeficiency virus infection.

Background: Actinomyces odontolyticus is not commonly recognized as a causative microbe of liver abscess. The detection and identification of A. odontolyticus in laboratories and its recognition as a pathogen in clinical settings can be challenging.

Serial quantitative chest computed tomography imaging as prognosticators of coronavirus disease 2019 pneumonia.

In 2019, a large outbreak of a novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) occurred in China. The purpose of this study is to quantitatively analyze the evolution of chest computed tomography (CT) imaging features in COVID-19. Nine patients with positive real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction results were included in this study.

Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms and Virulence of Colistin- and Carbapenem-Resistant Isolated from a Teaching Hospital in Taiwan.

, a Gram-negative bacterium, is an important nosocomial pathogen. Colistin-resistant is becoming a new concern, since colistin is one of the last-line antibiotics for infections by carbapenem-resistant From 452 carbapenem-resistant isolates collected in a teaching hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, we identified seven that were resistant to colistin. Carbapenem resistance in these isolates is attributed to the presence of carbapenemase gene in their genomes.

Molecular Epidemiology and Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Isolated from Urine at a Teaching Hospital in Taiwan.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in clinics and hospitals and are associated with a high economic burden. Enterobacterium is a prevalent agent causing UTIs. A high prevalence of carbapenem-resistant (CRKP) has emerged recently and is continuing to increase.

Global Infectious Disease Surveillance and Case Tracking System for COVID-19: Development Study.

Background: COVID-19 has affected more than 180 countries and is the first known pandemic to be caused by a new virus. COVID-19's emergence and rapid spread is a global public health and economic crisis. However, investigations into the disease, patient-tracking mechanisms, and case report transmissions are both labor-intensive and slow.

Clinical impact of monocyte distribution width and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio for distinguishing COVID-19 and influenza from other upper respiratory tract infections: A pilot study.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a pandemic. Rapidly distinguishing COVID-19 from other respiratory infections is a challenge for first-line health care providers. This retrospective study was conducted at the Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.

Probiotic Cocktail Identified by Microbial Network Analysis Inhibits Growth, Virulence Gene Expression, and Host Cell Colonization of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci.

The prevalence of vancomycin resistant enterococcus (VRE) carrier-state has been increasing in patients of intensive care unit and it would be a public health threat. Different research groups conducted decolonizing VRE with probiotic and the results were controversial. Therefore, a systemic approach to search for the probiotic species capable of decolonizing VRE is necessary.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis presenting as oral ecthyma gangrenosum in identical twins with Bruton tyrosine kinase gene mutation: Two case reports and review of the literature.

X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is a primary immunodeficiency disease. We reported two 7-month-old identical male twins with Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis who initially manifested as oral ecthyma gangrenosum and were finally diagnosed to have XLA. In both cases, we confirmed the c.

The Occurrence of Metronidazole-Induced Encephalopathy in Cancer Patients: A Hospital-Based Retrospective Study.

Background: Metronidazole-induced encephalopathy (MIE) is a rare but serious complication caused by metronidazole, a widely used antianaerobic drug. Previous studies prescribed MIE including dysarthria, cerebellar ataxia, and confusion after long-term use of metronidazole. Malignancy has been proposed one of the predisposing conditions for MIE.

Blockade Effects of Anti-Interferon- (IFN-) Autoantibodies on IFN--Regulated Antimicrobial Immunity.

The interferon- (IFN-) expression is elicited in response to microbial infections and activates immune surveillance by antimicrobial immune elements to induce microbial killing. Patients with adult-onset immunodeficiency who suffer from recurrent infections with microbes, particularly nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), commonly display genetic defects in IFN- signaling as well as the generation of anti-IFN- autoantibodies (autoAbs). Because IFN- is an activator of macrophage differentiation and a proinflammatory activator of innate immunity, the blockade effects of the autoAbs present in NTM patient serum on IFN- are hypothesized to regulate the antimicrobial function of macrophages.

Functional neutralization of anti-IFN-γ autoantibody in patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria infection.

Interferon (IFN)-γ is crucial for normal immune surveillance and exhibits immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and anticancer activity. Patients with nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection commonly express high levels of anti-IFN-γ autoantibodies (autoAbs) and suffer from recurrent infections due to adult-onset immunodeficiency with defects in IFN-γ immune surveillance. In this study, we developed the methods for determination of anti-IFN-γ autoAbs and then characterized their neutralizing activity in patients with NTM infection.

Author Contribution Correction: An Integrated Influenza Surveillance Framework Based on National Influenza-Like Illness Incidence and Multiple Hospital Electronic Medical Records for Early Prediction of Influenza Epidemics: Design and Evaluation.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/12341.].

Protective effect of influenza vaccination on outcomes in geriatric stroke patients: A nationwide matched cohort study.

Background And Aims: The effects of influenza vaccination (IV) on stroke outcomes are unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcomes after stroke in elderly individuals who have received an IV.

Methods: We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database 2000-2009 claims data to conduct a nested stroke cohort study including 148,909 hospitalized stroke patients aged 66 years and older.

An Integrated Influenza Surveillance Framework Based on National Influenza-Like Illness Incidence and Multiple Hospital Electronic Medical Records for Early Prediction of Influenza Epidemics: Design and Evaluation.

Background: Influenza is a leading cause of death worldwide and contributes to heavy economic losses to individuals and communities. Therefore, the early prediction of and interventions against influenza epidemics are crucial to reduce mortality and morbidity because of this disease. Similar to other countries, the Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (TWCDC) has implemented influenza surveillance and reporting systems, which primarily rely on influenza-like illness (ILI) data reported by health care providers, for the early prediction of influenza epidemics.