A retrospective cohort study of Mycobacterium kansasii complex pulmonary infections at a tertiary teaching hospital.

Background: Mycobacterium kansasii complex (MKC) is the second common slowly growing mycobacterium associated with pulmonary diseases, typically presenting as chronic, progressive respiratory symptoms with structural lung damage. This study aimed to identify the prognostic factors, genotypes, antimicrobial susceptibility, and treatment outcomes in patients with MKC pulmonary disease (MKC-PD).

Methods: This retrospective cohort study of patients with MKC-PD from January 2016 to August 2021 was conducted at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taiwan.

Impact of Probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strain Shirota (LcS) on Aflatoxin Exposure among Healthy Malaysian Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Intervention Study.

Background: Limited evidence suggests that probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LcS) may reduce aflatoxin exposure in Malaysians, though individual factors influencing aflatoxin exposure remain unclear.

Objectives: This study evaluated the effect of LcS on aflatoxin biomarker concentrations over a 12-wk intervention among healthy Malaysian adults. A secondary objective was to explore the individual factors associated with aflatoxin exposure using baseline data.

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics and Mortality Outcome in Critical COVID-19 Patients Infected with Alpha and Omicron Variants.

Objective: Early reports have indicated that the Omicron variant of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be associated with low mortality. However, the mortality rate of critical patients in Taiwan with COVID-19 caused by different variants has not been well described.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Linkou Branch of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from April 2020 to September 2022.

Leg length discrepancy risk differs between fit-and-fill and taper wedge stems across Dorr types.

Introduction: The comparison between the cementless taper wedge stem and fit-and-fill stem in total hip arthroplasty (THA) for various proximal femoral morphological types has not been thoroughly assessed. This study aimed to compare the risk of leg length discrepancy (LLD) ≥ 10 mm between these two stem types in Dorr type A, B, and C femurs.

Materials And Methods: From April 2015 through April 2021, we analyzed 1178 unilateral primary cementless THA procedures.

Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index as an effective tool for the choice between simultaneous or staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty.

Introduction: The choice between simultaneous and staged bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) remains controversial. Age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index(CCI) is a promising tool for risk-stratification. We aimed to compare the outcomes between patients who underwent simultaneous and staged BTKA, stratified by age-adjusted CCI scores.

Gut Microbiota in Patients with Prediabetes.

Prediabetes is characterized by abnormal glycemic levels below the type 2 diabetes threshold, and effective control of blood glucose may prevent the progression to type 2 diabetes. While the association between the gut microbiota, glucose metabolism, and insulin resistance in diabetic patients has been established in previous studies, there is a lack of research regarding these aspects in prediabetic patients in Asia. We aim to investigate the composition of the gut microbiota in prediabetic patients and their differences compared to healthy individuals.

Risk factors for venous thromboembolism after primary total joint arthroplasty: An analysis of 7511 Taiwanese patients.

Background: The need for thromboprophylaxis in Asian patients after primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) remains inconclusive. We aimed to identify the risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE) events following primary TJA in a Taiwanese population.

Methods: From January 2010 to December 2019, we studied 7511 patients receiving primary TJA from a single surgeon.

Combination of enoxaparin and low-dose aspirin for thromboprophylaxis in selective patients after primary total joint arthroplasty in a Taiwanese population.

Background: The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) procedures are lower in Asian populations than in Caucasian populations. Therefore, the need for thromboprophylaxis in Asian patients undergoing TJA remains inconclusive. The aim of this study was to validate the clinical outcomes of thromboprophylaxis in selective TJA patients in a Taiwanese population.

Risk Factors for Influenza-Induced Exacerbations and Mortality in Non-Cystic Fibrosis Bronchiectasis.

Influenza infection is a cause of exacerbations in patients with chronic pulmonary diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes and identify risk factors associated with hospitalization and mortality following influenza infection in adult patients with bronchiectasis. Using the Chang Gung Research Database, we identified patients with bronchiectasis and influenza-related infection (ICD-9-CM 487 and anti-viral medicine) between 2008 and 2017.

Cementless primary or revision stem in revision hip arthroplasty for aseptic stem loosening with Paprosky type I/II femoral defect?

Background: The use of primary or revision stem during revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for aseptic stem loosening with Paprosky type I/II femoral defect remains controversial. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of patients who underwent revision THA with a primary or revision stem.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 78 patients who received revision THA for aseptic stem loosening using primary (N = 28) or revision stems (N = 50).

Increased Interleukin-17 and Glucocorticoid Receptor-β Expression in Interstitial Lung Diseases and Corticosteroid Insensitivity.

Background: Treatment responsiveness to corticosteroids is excellent for cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (COP) and sarcoidosis, but suboptimal for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)/usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP). We hypothesise that the differential expression of IL-17 contributes to variable corticosteroid sensitivity in different interstitial lung diseases.

Objective: To determine the associations among expression of IL-17, glucocorticoid receptor-β and responsiveness to corticosteroid treatment in interstitial lung diseases.

Pharmacological thromboprophylaxis as a risk factor for early periprosthetic joint infection following primary total joint arthroplasty.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis has been suggested for patients who underwent total join arthroplasty (TJA). However, the morbidity of surgical site complications (SSC) and periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) has not been well evaluated. We aimed to evaluate the impact of VTE prophylaxis on the risk of early postoperative SSC and PJI in a Taiwanese population.

Oxygen Desaturation Is Associated With Fibrocyte Activation Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor/Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α Axis in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Fibrocytes are bloodborne mesenchymal progenitors which accumulate and differentiate at the disease site. We investigated whether hypoxemia activates fibrocytes, accelerating airflow limitation and exercise intolerance in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. Flow cytometry was used to determine collagen I/CD45 fibrocytes and α-smooth muscle actin differentiating fibrocytes within peripheral blood and cultured cells, as well as the expression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α.

Emphysema-Predominant COPD Had a Greater 5-Year Mortality and a Worse Annual Decline in Lung Function Than Airway Obstruction-Predominant COPD or Asthma at Initial Same Degree of Airflow Obstruction.

We studied whether the extent of exertional oxygen desaturation and emphysema could cause greater mortality in COPD and asthma independent of airflow obstruction. We performed a 5-year longitudinal observational study in COPD and asthma patients who matched for airflow obstruction severity. All subjects performed a 6-min walk test (6MWT) and high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) and followed spirometry and oxygen saturation (SpO) during the 6MWT every 3-6 months.

Short-Term Intake of Yellowstripe Scad versus Salmon Did Not Induce Similar Effects on Lipid Profile and Inflammatory Markers among Healthy Overweight Adults despite Their Comparable EPA+DHA Content.

Yellowstripe scad (YSS) have comparable eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid (EPA+DHA) content to salmon. We aimed to compare the effects of YSS and salmon on lipid profile and inflammatory markers. A randomized crossover trial with two diet periods was conducted among healthy overweight (with BMI 23.

Increased Th1 Cells with Disease Resolution of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Non-Atopic Patients.

Type 1 CD4 T helper (Th1) cells mediate resistance to (Mtb), and Th2 immunity generates specific immunoglobulin E upon allergen exposure. We investigated the impact of active tuberculosis (TB), atopic status, and anti-TB treatment on the balance between Th1 and Th2 (type 2 CD4 T helper) immunity. CD4/interferon (IFN)-γ Th1 cells (%Th1) and CD4/interleukin-4 Th2 cells (%Th2) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were measured by flow cytometry.

Short-Chained Platinum Complex Catalyzed Hydrosilylation under Thermomorphic Conditions: Heterogeneous Phase Separation at Ice Temperature.

Homogeneous catalysts PtCl[5,5'-bis-(-ClCF(CF)CHOCH)-2,2'-bpy] () and PtCl[5,5'-bis-(-HCF(CF)CHOCH)-2,2'-bpy] (), which contained short fluorous chains, were synthesized and used in catalysis of hydrosilylation of alkynes. In these reactions the thermomorphic mode was effectively used to recover these catalysts from the reaction mixture up to eight cycles by taking advantage of heterogeneous phase separation at ice temperature. This kind of catalysis had previously been observed in fluorous catalysts of platinum containing about 50% F-content, but in this work the percentage of F-content is decreased to only about 30%, by which we termed them as "very light fluorous".

Etiology and characteristics of patients with bronchiectasis in Taiwan: a cohort study from 2002 to 2016.

Background: Bronchiectasis is a chronic infectious respiratory disease with diverse causes and ethnic or geographic differences. However, few large-scale studies of its etiology have been conducted in Asia. This study aimed to determine the etiology and clinical features of bronchiectasis in Taiwan.

Structure-Dependent Photoluminescence in Low-Dimensional Ethylammonium, Propylammonium, and Butylammonium Lead Iodide Perovskites.

Hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites have attracted great attention as the next generation materials for photovoltaic and light-emitting devices. However, their environment instability issue remains as the largest challenge for practical applications. Recently emerging two-dimensional (2D) perovskites with Ruddlesden-Popper structures are found to greatly improve the stability and aging problems.

Increased Ratio of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)/Tissue Inhibitor Metalloproteinase-1 from Alveolar Macrophages in Chronic Asthma with a Fast Decline in FEV at 5-Year Follow-up.

Chronic asthma is associated with progressive airway remodeling, which may contribute to declining lung function. An increase in matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9)/tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) may indicate airway inflammation and bronchial injury. Bronchial biopsy specimens and alveolar macrophages (AMs) were obtained from patients with asthma under regular treatment with inhaled corticosteroids or combination therapy and normal subjects ( = 10).

Maintenance Negative Pressure Ventilation Improves Survival in COPD Patients with Exercise Desaturation.

Negative pressure ventilation (NPV), when used as an adjuvant to pulmonary rehabilitation, improves lung function, increases exercise capacity, and reduces exacerbations. The aim of this study was to determine whether maintenance NPV improves long-term clinical outcomes and reduces mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Between 2003 and 2009, 341 patients were treated for COPD either with or without hospital-based NPV.

Oxygen desaturation during the 6-min walk test as a risk for osteoporosis in non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis.

Background: Osteoporosis is a common comorbidity in non-cystic fibrosis (non-CF) bronchiectasis patients. We determined whether desaturation during 6-min walk test (6MWT) can be a predictor for osteoporosis risk.

Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study.

Mesalazine-related lung disease in a patient with ulcerative colitis: A case report.

Rationale: Mesalazine is widely used to treat inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). However, discriminating between pulmonary manifestations of IBD and drug-related lung disease remains a challenge. There were few case reports of mesalazine-related organizing pneumonia so far.