Relationship of myocardial substrate characteristics as assessed by myocardial perfusion imaging and cardiac reverse remodeling levels after cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can provide cardiac reverse remodeling (RR), which may include mechanical reverse remodeling (MRR) and/or electrical reverse remodeling (ERR). However, uncoupling of MRR and ERR is not uncommon, and the underlying mechanisms are not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of myocardial substrate characteristics as assessed by myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and cardiac RR post-CRT.

Impact of cardiac reverse remodeling after cardiac resynchronization therapy assessed by myocardial perfusion imaging on ventricular arrhythmia.

Background: Although cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has been a useful treatment of heart failure, patients with CRT are still in risk of sudden cardiac death due to ventricular arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of cardiac reverse remodeling after CRT on the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation (VT/VF).

Methods And Results: Forty-one heart failure patients (26 men, age 66 ± 10 years), who were implanted with CRT for at least 12 months, were enrolled.

(-)-Epicatechin-3-O-β-D-allopyranoside from Davallia formosana, Prevents Diabetes and Hyperlipidemia by Regulation of Glucose Transporter 4 and AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphorylation in High-Fat-Fed Mice.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine the antidiabetic and lipid-lowering effects of (-)-epicatechin-3-O-β-D-allopyranoside (BB) from the roots and stems of Davallia formosana in mice. Animal treatment was induced by high-fat diet (HFD) or low-fat diet (control diet, CD). After eight weeks of HFD or CD exposure, the HFD mice were treating with BB or rosiglitazone (Rosi) or fenofibrate (Feno) or water through gavage for another four weeks.

Relationship of quantitative parameters of myocardial perfusion SPECT and ventricular arrhythmia in patients receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Background: Ventricular arrhythmia is the major cause of sudden cardiac death for patients with heart failure, including those receiving implantation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). The purpose of this study was to assess the value of myocardial perfusion SPECT (MPS) in predicting ventricular arrhythmia for patients with CRT.

Methods And Methods: Fifty-one patients (35 males, mean age 64 ± 12 years) who had received CRT for at least 6 months were enrolled for resting gated MPS.

Disruption of in vitro endothelial barrier integrity by Japanese encephalitis virus-Infected astrocytes.

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) characteristics are induced and maintained by crosstalk between brain microvascular endothelial cells and neighboring cells. Using in vitro cell models, we previously found that a bystander effect was a cause for Japanese encephalitis-associated endothelial barrier disruption. Brain astrocytes, which neighbor BBB endothelial cells, play roles in the maintenance of BBB integrity.

Trend in vancomycin susceptibility and correlation with molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus causing invasive infections in Taiwan: results from the Tigecycline in vitro Surveillance in Taiwan (TIST) study, 2006-2010.

This study was intended to investigate the trend in vancomycin susceptibility and correlation with molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing invasive infections. A total of 670 MRSA isolates were collected from patients with invasive infections as part of bacterial collection in the Tigecycline in vitro Surveillance in Taiwan (TIST) from 2006 to 2010. MICs of the isolates to vancomycin were determined using the agar dilution method.

Autophagy contributes to gefitinib-induced glioma cell growth inhibition.

Epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including gefitinib, have been evaluated in patients with malignant gliomas. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in gefitinib-mediated anticancer effects against glioma are incompletely understood. In the present study, the cytostatic potential of gefitinib was demonstrated by the inhibition of glioma cell growth, long-term clonogenic survival, and xenograft tumor growth.

Regulation of human endothelial progenitor cell maturation by polyurethane nanocomposites.

The mobilization and homing of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are critical to the development of an antithrombotic cardiovascular prosthesis. Polyurethane (PU) with superior elasticity may provide a mechanical environment resembling that of the natural vascular tissues. The topographical cues of PU were maximized by making nanocomposites with a small amount of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs).

Identification, characterization, and biofilm formation of clinical Chryseobacterium gleum isolates.

Chryseobacterium gleum is not commonly isolated from clinical source(s). Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified 15 C. gleum isolates from the Central Region Hospital Alliance, Taiwan, which were all misidentified: 14 as Chryseobacterium indologenes and 1 as Elizabethkingia meningoseptica using the Vitek 2 GN card.

Clinical Characteristic Picture and Impact of Symptoms on Quality of Life of Interstitial Cystitis Patients in Taiwan.

Objective: No clinical characteristic picture and impact of symptoms on quality of life (QOL) of interstitial cystitis (IC) patients in Taiwan had been reported. This paper is intended to provide preliminary descriptive results of IC research in Taiwan.

Methods: A total of 319 patients, based on National Institute of Arthritis, Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) criteria, were enrolled in the study from February 2004 through March 2006.

Depression-like effect of prenatal buprenorphine exposure in rats.

Studies indicate that perinatal opioid exposure produces a variety of short- and long-term neurobehavioral consequences. However, the precise modes of action are incompletely understood. Buprenorphine, a mixed agonist/antagonist at the opioid receptors, is currently being used in clinical trials for managing pregnant opioid addicts.

An Overview of Current Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy.

Unlabelled: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is currently an established device therapy for heart failure (HF) patients. Existing knowledge of implantation techniques, advances in device-based technologies and clinical trial experience have all significantly impacted this evolving therapy in recent years. This review article will address the updated CRT guidelines, and potentially new indications for CRT such as patients with mild HF symptoms and prolonged QRS duration; it also highlights new approaches for placement of the left ventricular (LV) lead, multi-site LV pacing, and the role of automatic device optimization in CRT.

Docosahexaenoic acid reduces cellular inflammatory response following permanent focal cerebral ischemia in rats.

Cellular inflammatory response plays an important role in ischemic brain injury and anti-inflammatory treatments in stroke are beneficial. Dietary supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) shows anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects against ischemic stroke. However, its effectiveness and its precise modes of neuroprotective action remain incompletely understood.

Elderly patients with inappropriate medication correlations with adverse drug events or unexpected illnesses in long-term care institutions.

Introduction: The elderly are subject to natural aging and the health problems caused by the recession of physical and mental functions. Elderly patients are also more susceptible to adverse reactions of medication, drug interactions and other drug problems than the young. We then investigated patients with adverse drug events (ADEs) or unexpected illnesses transferred to our hospital during the whole year of 2010.

Identification and epidemiological relatedness of clinical Elizabethkingia meningoseptica isolates from central Taiwan.

Background: Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an opportunistic pathogen. Identification of E. meningoseptica based on conventional methods is rather labor- and time-consuming.

Disability assessment: the efficacy of multimedia interactive nurse education.

Background: Nearly 3% of the population in Taiwan is classified as disabled. Disability assessment directly relates to long-term care quality and resource allocation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of a multimedia interactive DVD on enhancing nurse knowledgeand disability assessment skills.

Identification, clinical aspects, susceptibility pattern, and molecular epidemiology of beta-haemolytic group G Streptococcus anginosus group isolates from central Taiwan.

No literature is available on the prevalence and clinical aspects of beta-haemolytic group G Streptococcus anginosus group in central Taiwan. In this study, we used 16S rRNA gene sequencing and 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer sequencing (where necessary) as the gold standard for molecular identification. Twenty-seven S.

A meta-analysis of trials using the intention to treat principle for glutamine supplementation in critically ill patients with burn.

Background: During critical illness, the demand for glutamine may exceed that which can be mobilized from muscle stores. Infections increase mortality, morbidity, length-of-stay, antibiotic usage and the cost of care. This is a major health care issue.

Synergistic activities of tigecycline with clarithromycin or amikacin against rapidly growing mycobacteria in Taiwan.

The occurrence of diseases caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM) is increasing in Taiwan. In this study, the in vitro antimicrobial activities of tigecycline, minocycline, tetracycline and doxycycline were evaluated against 160 clinical RGM isolates, including 34 Mycobacterium abscessus sensu stricto (s.s.

Combined effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha and apolipoprotein E polymorphisms on risk of breast cancer in a Taiwanese population.

Background: The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARA) and apolipoprotein E (APOE) proteins are reported to be correlated with lipid metabolism, cardiovascular disease, and breast cancer.

Methods: We screened APOE and PPARA (S24F and V227A) polymorphisms in 306 breast cancer patients and 300 noncancer controls and determined the relationship between their genetic polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. Interactions with clinical characteristics were also examined.

Apigenin induces apoptosis through mitochondrial dysfunction in U-2 OS human osteosarcoma cells and inhibits osteosarcoma xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

The cytostatic drug from natural products has acted as a chemotherapeutic agent used in treatment of a wide variety of cancers. Apigenin, a type of flavonoid, exhibits anticancer actions, but there is no report to show that apigenin induced apoptosis in osteosarcoma cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of apigenin on U-2 OS human osteosarcoma cells and clarify that the apigenin-induced apoptosis-associated signals.

Fertility and pregnancy outcomes after uterine artery occlusion with or without myomectomy.

Uterine artery occlusion (UAO) is one of the minimally invasive procedures used to treat uterine fibroids. It has demonstrated the potential to reduce fibroid growth and related symptoms with few complications and adverse effects. Meanwhile, it may preserve the uterus and ovarian blood supply to allow pregnancy in women with symptomatic fibroids.

Spontaneous perforation of the bile duct in a neonate: drainage or resection?

Spontaneous perforation of the bile duct is a rare disease, and delayed diagnosis without optimal treatment can be fatal. Abdominal drainage with or without repair of perforation seems to be adequate in most case series. We report on a 10-day-old female neonate with spontaneous perforation of the bile duct over the junction of cystic duct and common hepatic duct, who recovered uneventfully with follow-up for 3 years after receiving a single-stage operation of cholecystectomy and biliary reconstruction.

Chrysin, a natural and biologically active flavonoid, influences a murine leukemia model in vivo through enhancing populations of T-and B-cells, and promoting macrophage phagocytosis and NK cell cytotoxicity.

Chrysin (5,7-dihydroxyflavone), a natural and biologically active flavonoid found in plants, possesses many biological activities and anticancer effects. However, there is no available evidence regarding the antileukemia responses to chrysin in a mouse model. We hypothesized that chrysin affects murine WEHI-3 leukemia cells in vitro and in vivo.