The susceptibility of single nucleotide polymorphisms located within co-stimulatory pathways to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Introduction: Autoimmune diseases result from the loss of immune tolerance, and they exhibit complex pathogenic mechanisms that remain challenging to effectively treat. It has been reported that the altered expression levels of co-stimulatory/inhibitory molecules will affect the level of T/B cell activation and lead to the loss of immune tolerance.

Methods: In this study, we evaluated the gene polymorphisms of the ligand genes corresponding co-stimulatory system that were expressed on antigen-presenting cells (CD80, CD86, ICOSLG, and PDL1) from 60 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and 60 healthy controls.

Exploration of the association between the single-nucleotide polymorphism of co-stimulatory system and rheumatoid arthritis.

Introduction: The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) has been linked to the majority of autoimmune diseases (ADs). However, non-HLA genes may be risk factors for ADs. A number of genes encoding proteins involved in regulating T-cell and B-cell function have been identified as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility genes.

Corrigendum: Investigation of the association between the genetic polymorphisms of co-stimulatory system and systemic lupus erythematosus.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.

A major outbreak of the COVID-19 on the Diamond Princess cruise ship: Estimation of the basic reproduction number.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, which broke out in Wuhan, China, in 2019, was declared an international public health emergency by the World Health Organization on January 31, 2020. The outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship had appeared first as a cluster infection outside China during the early pandemic. The incident occurred on February 1, 2020, involved an 80-year-old Hong Kong man who was diagnosed with COVID-19.

Investigation of the association between the genetic polymorphisms of the co-stimulatory system and systemic lupus erythematosus.

Human leukocyte antigen genes have been shown to have the strongest association with autoimmune disease (AD). However, non-HLA genes would be risk factors of AD. Many genes encoding proteins that are related to T- and B-cell function have been identified as susceptibility genes of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Consensus recommendations on managing the selected comorbidities including cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and interstitial lung disease in rheumatoid arthritis.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related comorbidities, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), osteoporosis (OP), and interstitial lung disease (ILD), are sub-optimally managed. RA-related comorbidities affect disease control and lead to impairment in quality of life. We aimed to develop consensus recommendations for managing RA-related comorbidities.

The effect of tetrastarch solution for capillary leak syndrome following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A report of 2 cases.

Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a severe complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) characterized by weight gain, generalized edema, hypotension, and hypoalbuminemia. The primary pathogenesis is injury of the capillary endothelium resulting in a loss of intravascular fluid into the interstitial space. Treatment is limited to vascular endothelial growth factor withdrawal and systemic corticosteroids.

Amyloid PET pattern with dementia and amyloid angiopathy in Taiwan familial AD with D678H APP mutation.

Introduction: The novel D678H amyloid precursor protein (APP) gene mutation has been called the "Taiwan mutation". The study aims to identify amyloid deposition patterns and clinical features associated with this mutation.

Methods: we analyzed the clinical manifestations, brain neuroimages and F-AV-45 positron emission tomography (PET) findings in symptomatic patients and asymptomatic subjects with the autosomal-dominant Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Effects of Chinese herbal medicine therapy on survival and hepatic outcomes in patients with hepatitis C virus infection in Taiwan.

Background: Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) is a complementary natural medicine that is used widely for the treatment of hepatic diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the long-term use of CHM for the treatment of liver diseases, as prescribed by TCM doctors, on overall mortality and hepatic outcomes in patients with HCV.

Patients And Methods: We identified 98788 patients with HCV.

Renal dysfunction increases the risk of recurrent stroke in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Background And Aims: This study investigated risks of short-term (1 and 3 months) and long-term (1-year) recurrent stroke associated with glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: From the Taiwan Stroke Registry data, we identified 45,876 acute ischemic stroke patients from April 2006 to April 2014 and classified them into 4 groups based on the eGFR at admission: ≥ 90, 60-89, 30-59, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m or on dialysis.

Oral Nonviral Gene Delivery for Chronic Protein Replacement Therapy.

Efficient nonviral oral gene delivery offers an attractive modality for chronic protein replacement therapy. Herein, the oral delivery of insulin gene is reported by a nonviral vector comprising a copolymer with a high degree of substitution of branched polyethylenimine on chitosan (CS-g-bPEI). Protecting the plasmid from gastric acidic degradation and facilitating transport across the gut epithelium, the CS-g-bPEI/insulin plasmid DNA nanoparticles (NPs) can achieve systemic transgene expression for days.

Agitated behaviors among elderly people with dementia living in their home in Taiwan.

Background/aims: Limited research has been conducted on agitated behavior in Taiwan and dementia among community-dwelling elderly. Therefore, this study focused on community elderly with dementia and a factor analysis of an inventory of their agitated behaviors was conducted.

Patients And Methods: Participants (N=221) completed the Chinese Cohen-Mansfield Agitation Inventory, community form.

Small cell variant of ALK-positive anaplastic large cell lymphoma with primary subcutaneous presentation: A case report.

Rationale: The rare morphological variant of anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) may pose a challenge in diagnosis, especially when presentation primarily involves skin lesions.

Patient Concerns: Here we describe a rare case of small cell variant of ALCL in an 11-year-old girl.

Diagnosis: We performed clinical, morphological, and immunohistochemical analyses of developed cutaneous nodules.

An Intestinal "Transformers"-like Nanocarrier System for Enhancing the Oral Bioavailability of Poorly Water-Soluble Drugs.

Increasing the intestinal dissolution of orally administered poorly water-soluble drugs that have poor oral bioavailability to a therapeutically effective level has long been an elusive goal. In this work, an approach that can greatly enhance the oral bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble drug such as curcumin (CUR) is developed, using a "Transformers"-like nanocarrier system (TLNS) that can self-emulsify the drug molecules in the intestinal lumen to form nanoemulsions. Owing to its known anti-inflammation activity, the use of CUR in treating pancreatitis is evaluated herein.

Aristolochic acids and their derivatives are widely implicated in liver cancers in Taiwan and throughout Asia.

Many traditional pharmacopeias include and related plants, which contain nephrotoxins and mutagens in the form of aristolochic acids and similar compounds (collectively, AA). AA is implicated in multiple cancer types, sometimes with very high mutational burdens, especially in upper tract urothelial cancers (UTUCs). AA-associated kidney failure and UTUCs are prevalent in Taiwan, but AA's role in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) there remains unexplored.

Loss of tumor suppressor KDM6A amplifies PRC2-regulated transcriptional repression in bladder cancer and can be targeted through inhibition of EZH2.

Trithorax-like group complex containing KDM6A acts antagonistically to Polycomb-repressive complex 2 (PRC2) containing EZH2 in maintaining the dynamics of the repression and activation of gene expression through H3K27 methylation. In urothelial bladder carcinoma, (a H3K27 demethylase) is frequently mutated, but its functional consequences and therapeutic targetability remain unknown. About 70% of mutations resulted in a total loss of expression and a consequent loss of demethylase function in this cancer type.

Safety and efficacy of self-assembling bubble carriers stabilized with sodium dodecyl sulfate for oral delivery of therapeutic proteins.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is generally regarded as a potent permeability enhancer in oral formulations; however, one concern related to the use of any permeation enhancer is its possible absorption of unwanted toxins during the period of epithelial permeability enhancement. In this work, the safety and efficacy of an SDS-containing bubble carrier system that is developed from an orally administered enteric-coated capsule are evaluated. The bubble carriers comprise diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) dianhydride, sodium bicarbonate (SBC), SDS, and insulin.

A randomized controlled trial of a home-based training programme to decrease depression in family caregivers of persons with dementia.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore distinct trajectories of caregivers' depressive symptoms and the effects of a training programme on these trajectories over 18 months after the programme.

Background: Overall effects of caregiver-training programmes on family caregivers' depressive symptoms have been reported, but few studies explored distinct courses of changes in caregivers' depressive symptoms and followed up intervention effects on these distinct courses.

Design: Randomized clinical trial.

A programmable high-voltage compliance neural stimulator for deep brain stimulation in vivo.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one of the most effective therapies for movement and other disorders. The DBS neurosurgical procedure involves the implantation of a DBS device and a battery-operated neurotransmitter, which delivers electrical impulses to treatment targets through implanted electrodes. The DBS modulates the neuronal activities in the brain nucleus for improving physiological responses as long as an electric discharge above the stimulation threshold can be achieved.

Enhanced Therapeutic Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Antibody Delivery via Pulsed Ultrasound with Targeting Microbubbles for Glioma Treatment.

Pulsed-mode ultrasound (pUS) in combination with intravenously (IV) administered microbubbles (MBs) can enhance local drug delivery by temporarily enhancing capillary permeability. This study evaluates the use of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting MBs after pUS treatment to enhance the effects of therapeutic-EGFR antibody delivery to glioma tumor cells in mice. Three animal groups were compared: (1) IV-injected non-targeting MBs, (2) IV-injected targeting MBs, and (3) IV-injected targeting MBs combined with pUS treatment.

Contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging for the detection of focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) can be transiently and locally opened by focused ultrasound (FUS) in the presence of microbubbles (MBs). Various imaging modalities and contrast agents have been used to monitor this process. Unfortunately, direct ultrasound imaging of BBB opening with MBs as contrast agent is not feasible, due to the inability of MBs to penetrate brain parenchyma.

Magnetic-resonance imaging for kinetic analysis of permeability changes during focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening and brain drug delivery.

Focused ultrasound (FUS) with the presence of microbubbles has been shown to induce transient and local opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) for the delivery of therapeutic molecules which normally cannot penetrate into the brain. The success of FUS brain-drug delivery relies on its integration with in-vivo imaging to monitor kinetic change of therapeutic molecules into the brain. In this study, we developed a dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) technique for kinetic analysis of delivered molecules during FUS-BBB opening.

Focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening to enhance temozolomide delivery for glioblastoma treatment: a preclinical study.

The purpose of this study is to assess the preclinical therapeutic efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-monitored focused ultrasound (FUS)-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption to enhance Temozolomide (TMZ) delivery for improving Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) treatment. MRI-monitored FUS with microbubbles was used to transcranially disrupt the BBB in brains of Fisher rats implanted with 9L glioma cells. FUS-BBB opening was spectrophotometrically determined by leakage of dyes into the brain, and TMZ was quantitated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma by LC-MS\MS.