Atrial fibrillation and electrophysiology in transgenic mice with cardiac-restricted overexpression of FKBP12.

Cardiomyocyte-restricted overexpression of FK506-binding protein 12 transgenic (αMyHC-FKBP12) mice develop spontaneous atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the present study is to explore the mechanisms underlying the occurrence of AF in αMyHC-FKBP12 mice. Spontaneous AF was documented by telemetry in vivo and Langendorff-perfused hearts of αMyHC-FKBP12 and littermate control mice in vitro.

Differences in High Dose Antipsychotic Prescriptions in Patients with Schizophrenia in Asian Countries/Areas: Findings from the REAP-AP Study.

The REAP-AP study recruited 3,746 patients with schizophrenia, in March and April 2016, from 71 centers in 15 Asian countries/territories namely Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand and Vietnam. Our findings reveal a trend according to which high dose antipsychotic prescription is more prevalent in Eastern Asia (especially, Japan and Korea) than in other regions of Asia. This historical factor may be associated with our finding of an Eastern Asian preponderance of high dose antipsychotic prescription.

Notch3 interactome analysis identified WWP2 as a negative regulator of Notch3 signaling in ovarian cancer.

The Notch3 signaling pathway is thought to play a critical role in cancer development, as evidenced by the Notch3 amplification and rearrangement observed in human cancers. However, the molecular mechanism by which Notch3 signaling contributes to tumorigenesis is largely unknown. In an effort to identify the molecular modulators of the Notch3 signaling pathway, we screened for Notch3-intracellular domain (N3-ICD) interacting proteins using a human proteome microarray.

Apamin induces early afterdepolarizations and torsades de pointes ventricular arrhythmia from failing rabbit ventricles exhibiting secondary rises in intracellular calcium.

Background: A secondary rise of intracellular Ca(2+) (Cai) and an upregulation of apamin-sensitive K(+) current (I(KAS)) are characteristic findings of failing ventricular myocytes. We hypothesize that apamin, a specific I(KAS) blocker, may induce torsades de pointes (TdP) ventricular arrhythmia from failing ventricles exhibiting secondary rises of Cai.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that small conductance Ca(2+) activated IKAS maintains repolarization reserve and prevents ventricular arrhythmia in a rabbit model of heart failure (HF).

Molecular underpinning of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma.

Peripheral NK/T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a heterogeneous group of uncommon hematologic malignancies with aggressive clinical course and unfavorable prognosis. Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma, nasal type (NKTCL) is the most common extranodal entity worldwide, with heterogeneous geographic distribution, and it is characterized by its association with EBV, a nasal or less often extranasal presentation and aggressive behavior. Recent works using array-based technologies have provided novel insights into the pathogenesis and discovered new biomarkers with diagnostic and therapeutic implications in NKTCL.

Central hyperthermia in acute stroke.

Background: Central hyperthermia is an unresolved riddle; this study tries to define its characteristics.

Methods: Seventy-four previously healthy patients who developed hyperthermia (> or =39 degrees C) within 24 h after stroke onset were enrolled. The lesion sites, nature of stroke, and clinical features were studied.

Validation of the Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale by comparison with the Short Form 36 scale among psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder.

Background: The Depression and Somatic Symptoms Scale (DSSS) is a self-administered scale developed for monitoring both depression and somatic symptoms. The aims of this study were to establish the criterion-related validity of the DSSS by testing the correlation between the DSSS and the Short Form 36 (SF-36) scale and to compare the ability of the DSSS and two other scales in predicting the outcome of the SF-36.

Methods: The study enrolled 135 outpatients with a major depressive episode, 95 of whom received treatment for 1 month.

Migraine: a missing link between somatic symptoms and major depressive disorder.

Background: Research into the role of migraine in somatic symptoms of major depressive disorder (MDD) has long been neglected; hence, the aim of this study was to compare the impact of migraine and anxiety comorbidities on the somatic symptoms of patients with MDD.

Methods: Consecutive psychiatric outpatients with MDD in a medical center were enrolled. MDD and anxiety disorders were diagnosed using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV-TR; migraine was diagnosed according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition.

Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Bordetella pertussis in Taiwan prompted by a case of pertussis in a paediatric patient.

In Taiwan, pertussis is a notifiable disease with a low incidence in recent years, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing for the causative agent, Bordetella pertussis, has not been reported to date. In May 2007, the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, was informed of a 1-month-old pertussis patient who did not respond to erythromycin treatment. In this study, we report the result of antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed for the suspected erythromycin-resistant isolate, as well as for an additional 27 B.

Six-month paroxetine treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: continuous versus intermittent treatment protocols.

Aims: Several trials have proved the efficacy of selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI) in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) in Western society. The SSRI can be administered continuously throughout the entire cycle or intermittently from ovulation to the onset of menstruation (luteal phase). The purpose of the present study was to compare continuous and intermittent paroxetine treatment in oriental PMDD women during 6 months follow up.

The impact of migraine on patients with major depressive disorder.

Background: The impact of migraine and other headache types among psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder (MDD) has not been fully described.

Objective: To investigate the impact of migraine on the severity, physical, and anxiety symptoms in patients with MDD and to examine the interaction between headache and depression.

Methods: This clinic-based study enrolled consecutive psychiatric outpatients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD.

Comorbid migraine is associated with a negative impact on quality of life in patients with major depression.

This study investigated the impact of migraine on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). We prospectively enrolled 151 consecutive psychiatric out-patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for MDD. Migraine and other headache types were diagnosed based on the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 2nd edition (2004).

Risk factors associated with migraine or chronic daily headache in out-patients with major depressive disorder.

Objective: This study investigated independent comorbidities and factors associated with migraine and chronic daily headache (CDH) in out-patients with major depressive disorder (MDD).

Method: Consecutive psychiatric out-patients fulfilling the DSM-IV criteria of MDD were enrolled. Headaches were diagnosed based on the criteria proposed by the second edition of the International Classification of the Headache Disorders.

Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma in Taiwan: a clinicopathologic study of 22 cases, with analysis of histologic subtypes, Epstein-Barr virus LMP-1 gene association, and treatment modalities.

Nasal NK/T cell lymphoma is a distinctive type of extranodal lymphoma with an unique immunophenotype and a strong association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It is one of the common extranodal lymphomas in Taiwan. We studied 22 cases of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma to characterize their clinicopathologic features and to explore the possible differences between histologic subtypes and their clinical behavior as well as the prevalence of 30-base pair (bp) deleted latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) gene of the EBV.

Mental illness in a general hospital's family medicine clinic in Taiwan.

There has been a paucity of evidence-based information regarding mental illness in general medical settings among the Chinese population. Aims of the present study are to investigate the patterns and distribution of mental disorders among family medicine clinic attenders, illness behavior of attenders with such disorders, and the recognition and management given by family physicians for them. A random sample (n = 200) of patients attending a family medicine clinic in a medical center in Taiwan, received a standardized psychiatric assessment using the semistructured Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) after they had seen the family physician.

Recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of cervix after definitive radiotherapy.

Purpose: To study retrospectively the characteristics and survival of patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix after definitive radiotherapy (RT) and to identify subsets of patients who might benefit from aggressive salvage treatment.

Methods And Materials: Between 1990 and 1999, 1292 patients with Stage I-IVA SCC of the cervix underwent full-course RT. Of the 1292 patients, 375 (29%) had either local or distant failure and were included in this analysis.

Premenstrual symptoms and premenstrual exacerbation in patients with psychiatric disorders.

The aim of the present study was to examine the frequencies of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual exacerbation (PME) of a number of psychiatric disorders in Chinese subjects. Premenstrual syndrome was assessed using a symptom checklist based on International Classification of Diseases (10th revision; ICD-10) criteria. Premenstrual exacerbation was defined as premenstrual worsening of pre-existing generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), major depressive disorder or dysthymic disorder (depressive disorders, DD), panic disorder (PD), or schizophrenia (SCH).

Identification of a novel pre-S2 mutation in a subgroup of chronic carriers with spontaneous clearance of hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

Background And Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether spontaneous seroclearance of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in patients with chronic hepatitis B could be attributed to the presence of pre-S/S gene mutations.

Methods: Of 34 hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers who experienced spontaneous seroclearance of HBsAg, 30 were still seropositive for HBV DNA. The serum samples of these carriers were subjected to sequence analysis.

Effective open-label treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder with venlafaxine.

Various studies have demonstrated the efficacy of selective serotonergic re-uptake inhibitors in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). But the effectiveness of novel antidepressant, venlafaxine, in PMDD has been reported in only one Western study. The purpose of the present open-label study was to provide preliminary data on the effectiveness of venlafaxine for Asian women with PMDD.

Characteristics of women seeking treatment for premenstrual syndrome in Taiwan.

Objective: To analyze the characteristics of 150 women who visited a premenstrual syndrome (PMS) clinic in a Taiwanese medical center staffed by both psychiatrists and gynecologists.

Method: All subjects were interviewed and assessed for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) using DSM-IV criteria, a PMS questionnaire, and the structured Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Where PMDD was suspected, subjects were followed using a daily symptom record.

Correlation of panic attacks and hostility in chronic schizophrenia.

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between panic attacks and hostility in patients with chronic schizophrenia. Thirty-two patients with a minimum 2-year history of treatment for schizophrenia were interviewed. The patients took mood stablizers lithium, carbamazepine and valproate adjunctively for hostility and anger attacks.