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1.
Transbound Emerg Dis ; 65(6): 1493-1501, 2018 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29691993

ABSTRACT

Chicken infectious anaemia (CIA) is a disease with a highly economic impact in the poultry industry. The infected chickens are characterized by aplastic anaemia and extreme immunosuppression, followed by the increased susceptibility to secondary infectious pathogens and suboptimal immune responses for vaccination. Commercially available CIA vaccines are routinely used in the breeders in Taiwan to protect their progeny with maternal-derived antibodies. However, CIA cases still occur in the field and little is known about the genetic characteristics of Taiwanese chicken anaemia viruses (CAVs). In this study, CAV DNA was detected in 72 of 137 flocks collected during 2010-2015. Among the PCR-positive samples, the coding regions of 51 CAVs were sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP1 gene revealed that, although most of Taiwanese CAVs belonged to genotypes II and III, some isolates were clustered into a novel genotype (genotype IV). Moreover, a Taiwanese isolate in this novel genotype IV appeared to be derived from a recombination event between genotypes II and III viruses. Five Taiwanese CAV isolates were highly similar to the vaccine strains, 26P4 or Del-Ros. Taken together, these results indicate that the sequences of CAVs in Taiwan are variable, and inter-genotypic recombination had occurred between viruses of different genotypes. Moreover, vaccine-like strains might induce clinical signs of CIA in chickens. Our findings could be useful for understanding the evolution of CAVs and development of a better control strategy for CIA.


Subject(s)
Chicken anemia virus/genetics , Circoviridae Infections/veterinary , Poultry Diseases/epidemiology , Animals , Base Sequence , Chickens , Circoviridae Infections/epidemiology , Circoviridae Infections/virology , Cloning, Molecular , Gene Amplification , Genes, Viral/genetics , Genotype , Phylogeny , Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary , Poultry Diseases/virology , Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary , Taiwan/epidemiology
2.
Epidemiol Psychiatr Sci ; 27(2): 176-185, 2018 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27974084

ABSTRACT

AIMS: Poor insight is prevalent in patients with schizophrenia and has been associated with acute illness severity, medication non-adherence and poor treatment outcomes. Paradoxically, high insight has been associated with various undesirable outcomes, including low self-esteem, depression and low subjective quality of life (QoL) in patients with schizophrenia. Despite the growing body of studies conducted in Western countries supporting the pernicious effects of improved insight in psychosis, which bases on the level of self-stigma, the effects are unclear in non-Western societies. The current study examined the role of self-stigma in the relationship between insight and psychosocial outcomes in a Chinese population. METHODS: A total of 170 outpatients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders were recruited from two general university hospitals. Sociodemographic data and clinical variables were recorded and self-report scales were employed to measure self-stigma, depression, insight, self-esteem and subjective QoL. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to analyse the cross-sectional data. RESULTS: High levels of self-stigma were reported by 39% of the participants (n = 67). The influences of insight, self-stigma, self-esteem and depression on subjective QoL were confirmed by the SEM results. Our model with the closest fit to the data (χ 2 = 33.28; df = 20; p = 0.03; χ 2/df = 1.66; CFI = 0.98; TLI = 0.97; RMSEA = 0.06) demonstrated that self-stigma might fully mediate the association of insight with low self-esteem, depression and poor subjective QoL. High insight into illness contributed to self-stigma, which caused low self-esteem and depression and, consequently, low QoL. Notably, insight did not directly affect self-esteem, depression or QoL. Furthermore, the association of insight with poor psychosocial outcomes was not moderated by self-stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support the mediating model of insight relevant to the poor psychosocial outcomes of individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia in non-Western societies, in which self-stigma plays a pivotal role. These findings elucidate the direct and indirect effects of insight on psychosocial outcomes and imply that identifying and correcting self-stigma in people with schizophrenia could be beneficial. Additional studies are required to identify whether several other neurocognitive or psychosocial variables mediate or moderate the association of insight with self-esteem, depression and QoL in patients with schizophrenia. Studies with detailed longitudinal assessments are necessary to confirm our findings.


Subject(s)
Quality of Life/psychology , Schizophrenic Psychology , Self Concept , Social Stigma , Adolescent , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depression/etiology , Female , Humans , Latent Class Analysis , Male , Middle Aged , Outpatients , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Self Report , Young Adult
3.
Philos Trans A Math Phys Eng Sci ; 375(2099)2017 08 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28652493

ABSTRACT

The high precision and scalable technology offered by atom interferometry has the opportunity to profoundly affect gravity surveys, enabling the detection of features of either smaller size or greater depth. While such systems are already starting to enter into the commercial market, significant reductions are required in order to reach the size, weight and power of conventional devices. In this article, the potential for atom interferometry based gravimetry is assessed, suggesting that the key opportunity resides within the development of gravity gradiometry sensors to enable drastic improvements in measurement time. To push forward in realizing more compact systems, techniques have been pursued to realize a highly portable magneto-optical trap system, which represents the core package of an atom interferometry system. This can create clouds of 107 atoms within a system package of 20 l and 10 kg, consuming 80 W of power.This article is part of the themed issue 'Quantum technology for the 21st century'.

4.
Vet Rec ; 180(9): 224, 2017 Mar 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27941060

ABSTRACT

The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the effects of a structured exercise programme in sedentary dogs with chronic diarrhoea. Twenty-two dogs were enrolled in the study. All dogs received oral prednisolone (1 mg/kg/day for 14 days, followed by a tapering dosage) for 10 weeks. After four weeks of prednisolone treatment, dogs were assigned to either the exercise or control group (n=11 each). Owners of dogs in the exercise group were instructed to guide their dogs in structured exercise training (low-intensity to moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise three to five days per week). After 10 weeks of prednisolone treatment with concomitant 6 weeks of complementary exercise, the Canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease Activity Index (CIBDAI) score had decreased significantly in the exercise group (from 8.8±1.5 at the start of the exercise programme to 2.4±1.5; P<0.001); no such change was observed in the control group (from 9.2±0.9 to 9.2±1.1). CIBDAI scores differed significantly between the groups at the end of the 10-week study period (P<0.001). The exercise programme affected all six CIBDAI parameters significantly; bodyweight (P<0.001, adjusted r2=0.722) was most affected. A structured exercise programme may have positive effects on clinical symptoms in sedentary dogs with chronic diarrhoea.


Subject(s)
Diarrhea/veterinary , Dog Diseases/therapy , Exercise Therapy/veterinary , Sedentary Behavior , Animals , Chronic Disease , Diarrhea/therapy , Dogs , Prednisolone/therapeutic use , Program Evaluation , Treatment Outcome
5.
Nat Commun ; 7: 13933, 2016 12 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28000674

ABSTRACT

It is usually considered that the spectrum of an optical cavity coupled to an atomic medium does not exhibit a normal-mode splitting unless the system satisfies the strong coupling condition, meaning the Rabi frequency of the coherent coupling exceeds the decay rates of atom and cavity excitations. Here we show that this need not be the case, but depends on the way in which the coupled system is probed. Measurements of the reflection of a probe laser from the input mirror of an overdamped cavity reveal an avoided crossing in the spectrum that is not observed when driving the atoms directly and measuring the Purcell-enhanced cavity emission. We understand these observations by noting a formal correspondence with electromagnetically induced transparency of a three-level atom in free space, where our cavity acts as the absorbing medium and the coupled atoms play the role of the control field.

6.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis ; 24(3): 236-42, 2014 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24361071

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Abdominal aortic calcification (AC) has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) in hemodialysis patients but is rarely discussed in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We examined the independent predictors and predictive power for survival of AC in prevalent PD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: AC was detected by computed tomography (CT) and represented as the percentage of the total aortic cross-section area affected by AC (%AC). The predictors of %AC ≥ 15 were examined by multiple logistic regression analysis. Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to determine the hazard ratios associated with high %AC. A total of 183 PD patients were recruited to receive CT scans and divided into group 1 (%AC < 15, n = 97), group 2 (%AC ≥ 15, n = 41), and group 3 (diabetic patients, n = 45). Group 1 patients had lower osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels than group 2 patients (798 ± 378 vs. 1308 ± 1350 pg/mL, p < 0.05). The independent predictors for %AC ≥ 15 included the atherogenic index, OPG, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The age-adjusted hazard ratios associated with %AC ≥ 15 were 3.46 (p = 0.043) for mortality and 1.90 (p = 0.007) for hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: %AC can predict mortality and morbidity in non-diabetic PD patients, and 15% is a good cut-off value for such predictions. There are complex associations among mineral metabolism, inflammation, and dyslipidemia in the pathogenesis of AC.


Subject(s)
Aorta, Abdominal/physiopathology , Calcinosis/epidemiology , Dyslipidemias/epidemiology , Inflammation/epidemiology , Osteoprotegerin/blood , Peritoneal Dialysis/adverse effects , Adult , Aged , Biomarkers/blood , C-Reactive Protein/metabolism , Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Diabetes Mellitus , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Taiwan , Tomography, X-Ray Computed
7.
Br J Cancer ; 109(11): 2933-40, 2013 Nov 26.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24129236

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Obstructive uropathy and chronic urinary tract infection increase the risk of urinary tract cancer. Urinary tuberculosis (UTB) can cause chronic urinary tract inflammation, lead to obstructive uropathy, and potentially contribute to the development of urinary tract cancer. However, the association between UTB and urinary tract cancer has not been studied. METHODS: This study enrolled 135 142 tuberculosis (TB) cases (male, 69%) from a nationwide health insurance research database in Taiwan and investigated the risk factors for urinary tract cancer, with emphasis on a history of UTB. The incidence of urinary tract cancer in the general population without TB was also calculated for comparison. RESULTS: The TB patients had a mean age of 57.5 ± 19.5 years. Of the 1287 UTB and 133 855 non-UTB patients, 15 (1.2%) and 396 (0.3%) developed urothelial carcinoma, respectively (P<0.001); and 2 (0.2%) and 96 (0.1%) developed renal cell carcinoma, respectively (P=0.240). Cox regression analysis revealed that age, male sex, end-stage renal disease, obstructive uropathy, arsenic intoxication, organ transplantation, and UTB (hazard ratio: 3.38 (2.01-5.69)) were independent risk factors for urothelial carcinoma. The hazard ratio of UTB was higher among female patients (5.26 (2.12-13.06)) than that among male patients (2.96 (1.57-5.60)). CONCLUSION: Urinary tuberculosis had a strong association with urothelial carcinoma, but not with renal cell carcinoma. In TB endemic areas, the urinary tract of TB patients should be scrutinised. It is also imperative that these patients be followed-up carefully in the post-treatment period, and urinalysis, ultrasonography or endoscopy should be an integral part of the follow-up.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Renal Cell/epidemiology , Carcinoma, Transitional Cell/epidemiology , Kidney Neoplasms/epidemiology , Urinary Tract Infections/epidemiology , Urologic Neoplasms/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Taiwan/epidemiology , Tuberculosis, Urogenital/epidemiology , Urothelium/pathology
8.
Rev Gastroenterol Mex ; 78(3): 127-34, 2013.
Article in Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23938047

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: According to the Rome III Criteria, functional dyspepsia (FD) is classified as postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) and epigastric pain syndrome (EPS). On the other hand, the satiety test (ST) has been used to evaluate gastric accommodation and emptying, distinguishing healthy individuals from those with dyspepsia. AIMS: To determine whether the ST can distinguish dyspeptic individuals from healthy ones and to evaluate its usefulness in differentiating the two FD subtypes. METHODS: Adults with FD were consecutively enrolled in a cross-sectional study within the time frame of August 2011 and October 2012. Healthy subjects participated as controls. The ST consisted of the intake of a nutritional supplement (Fortisip®, Nutricia Bagó®) at a constant speed; satiety was graded at 5-minute intervals (1 to 5 points). Intake was suspended when the maximum score was reported. The total ingested volume and caloric intake was recorded and the Mann-Whitney U test was used in the statistical analysis. RESULTS: The study included 39 dyspeptic patients and 20 control individuals. The patients were predominantly women (84.6 vs. 25%; p < 0.0001) and they were similar in age (39.59 ± 13.53 vs. 34.70 ± 9.85 years) and BMI (24.32 ± 3.52 vs. 25.82 ± 3.34 kg/m2) with respect to the controls. The FD subtype percentages were PDS: 61%, EPS: 31%, and Mixed syndrome: 8%. There was a lower ingested volume and caloric intake on the part of the dyspeptic patients (185 vs. 300 ml and 277 vs. 520 Kcal, respectively. Both: P<.001). No differences in the ST were observed between the two pure dyspepsia subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: There was a difference in the ST between healthy individuals and those with dyspepsia, but the ingested volume and caloric intake in the two FD subtypes were similar.


Subject(s)
Dyspepsia/diagnosis , Satiety Response/physiology , Adult , Aged , Cross-Sectional Studies , Dyspepsia/classification , Dyspepsia/physiopathology , Female , Gastric Emptying/physiology , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Satiation , Stomach/physiopathology , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young Adult
9.
Nutr Metab Cardiovasc Dis ; 22(11): 974-80, 2012 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21592755

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The association between inflammation and left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and non-CAPD patients is not established. The objective of this study was to test the above association and whether inflammation interacts with CAPD to increase LV diastolic dysfunction risks. METHODS AND RESULTS: 120 subjects with normal creatinine levels and 101 CAPD patients were recruited. Echocardiographic parameters were assessed in all patients. The participants were classified as having LV diastolic dysfunction by echocardiographic findings including mitral inflow E/A ratio < 1, deceleration time > 220 cm/s, or decreased peak annular early diastolic velocity in tissue Doppler imaging. Blood was sampled at the baseline for measurement of inflammation markers, including tissue necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Subjects with LV diastolic dysfunction had higher proinflammation cytokines levels in both groups. Inflamed markers correlated significantly with echocardiography parameters for LV diastolic dysfunction in patients receiving CAPD. In a multivariate regression analysis adjusting for all the factors associated with LV diastolic dysfunction, inflammation is still significantly associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (TNF-alpha, OR: 2.6, 95% CI: 2.0-3.35, p < 0.001; IL-6, OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.25-1.26, p = 0.01). In addition, the interaction of CAPD and inflammation significantly contributed to the development of LV diastolic dysfunction (CAPD∗ TNF-α: OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.13-1.79, P = 0.004). CONCLUSION: We found inflammation plays a vital role for LV diastolic dysfunction especially in CAPD patients. A synergistic effect between CAPD and inflammation, especially TNF-α, would further aggravate LV diastolic dysfunction.


Subject(s)
Inflammation/physiopathology , Interleukin-6/blood , Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/blood , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/physiopathology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biomarkers/blood , Case-Control Studies , Creatinine/blood , Echocardiography, Doppler/methods , Female , Humans , Inflammation/complications , Logistic Models , Male , Middle Aged , Multivariate Analysis , Risk Factors , Ventricular Dysfunction, Left/complications
10.
Transbound Emerg Dis ; 58(3): 232-9, 2011 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21276209

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to evaluate the production of chicken anaemia virus VP3 protein in different Escherichia coli strains and to address the diagnostic application of purified E. coli-expressed VP3 protein for the detection of chicken anaemia virus (CAV) infection and the development of an ELISA kit. Three E. coli strains, BL21, BL21 codonplus RP and BL21 pLysS, each harbouring a VP3 protein expressing plasmid, were investigated after induction to produce recombinant VP3 protein. After isopropyl-ß-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG) induction, VP3 protein was successfully expressed in all three E. coli strains. The BL21 pLysS strain gave the best performance in terms of protein productivity and growth profile. In addition, the optimal culture temperature and IPTG concentration were found to be 0.25 mM and 20 °C, respectively. Using Ni-NTA-purified VP3 protein as an ELISA coating antigen, the purified VP3 was shown to be highly antigenic and able to discriminate sera from chickens infected with CAV from those that were uninfected during an evaluation of CAV infection serodiagnosis. A VP3-based ELISA demonstrated 100% (6/6 x 100%) specificity and sensitivities of 91.3% (21/23 x 100%) and 82.6% (19/23 x 100%) using cut-off values of the mean plus 2 SD and the mean plus 3 SD, respectively.


Subject(s)
Capsid Proteins/immunology , Chicken anemia virus/immunology , Escherichia coli/virology , Animals , Antigens, Viral , Chicken anemia virus/isolation & purification , Chickens/virology , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Sensitivity and Specificity , Temperature
11.
Genes Brain Behav ; 9(7): 695-702, 2010 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20528959

ABSTRACT

Patients with schizophrenia frequently display neurocognitive dysfunction, and genetic studies suggest it to be an endophenotype for schizophrenia. Genetic studies of such traits may thus help elucidate the biological pathways underlying genetic susceptibility to schizophrenia. This study aimed to identify loci influencing neurocognitive performance in schizophrenia. The sample comprised of 1207 affected individuals and 1035 unaffected individuals of Han Chinese ethnicity from 557 sib-pair families co-affected with DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition) schizophrenia. Subjects completed a face-to-face semi-structured interview, the continuous performance test (CPT) and the Wisconsin card sorting test (WCST), and were genotyped with 386 microsatellite markers across the genome. A series of autosomal genome-wide multipoint nonparametric quantitative trait loci (QTL) linkage analysis were performed in affected individuals only. Determination of genome-wide empirical significance was performed using 1000 simulated genome scans. One linkage peak attaining genome-wide significance was identified: 12q24.32 for undegraded CPT hit rate [nonparametric linkage z (NPL-Z) scores = 3.32, genome-wide empirical P = 0.03]. This result was higher than the peak linkage signal obtained in the previous genome-wide scan using a dichotomous diagnosis of schizophrenia. The identification of 12q24.32 as a QTL has not been consistently implicated in previous linkage studies on schizophrenia, which suggests that the analysis of endophenotypes provides additional information from what is seen in analyses that rely on diagnoses. This region with linkage to a particular neurocognitive feature may inform functional hypotheses for further genetic studies for schizophrenia.


Subject(s)
Cognition Disorders/genetics , Cognition Disorders/psychology , Genome-Wide Association Study , Schizophrenia/genetics , Schizophrenic Psychology , Asian People , Chromosomes/genetics , Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , Genetic Linkage , Genetic Loci , Genetic Markers , Humans , Microsatellite Repeats , Neuropsychological Tests , Psychomotor Performance/physiology , Siblings , Taiwan/epidemiology
12.
J Pediatr ; 156(5): 832-7, 837.e1, 2010 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20097359

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate a 4-year prospective clinical trial of agalsidase alfa in children with Fabry disease, an X-linked metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. STUDY DESIGN: Seventeen (16 boys, 1 girl; age range, 7.3 to 18.4 years) of the 24 children who completed a 6-month, open-label agalsidase alfa study enrolled in a 3.5-year extension study that investigated the safety and potential efficacy of long-term treatment. All 17 patients completed the initial 6-month study, and 10 patients (9 boys) completed the extension study. RESULTS: Agalsidase alfa was well tolerated. In treated boys, there were sustained, statistically-significant improvements in the clinical features of Fabry disease, including reduced plasma globotriaosylceramide levels, reduced pain severity assessed by the Brief Pain Index, and improved heart rate variability. Mean urine globotriaosylceramide levels were reduced to normal range (P < .05 compared with baseline during 1.5 to 4 years). Kidney function and left ventricular mass indexed to height remained stable throughout. CONCLUSIONS: This clinical trial demonstrates that treatment with agalsidase alfa was well tolerated and associated with improvement of Fabry disease-related features.


Subject(s)
Fabry Disease/drug therapy , alpha-Galactosidase/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Body Size , Child , Fabry Disease/metabolism , Fabry Disease/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Isoenzymes/adverse effects , Isoenzymes/therapeutic use , Kidney/physiopathology , Male , Pain Measurement , Recombinant Proteins , Sweat/physiology , Trihexosylceramides/blood , Trihexosylceramides/urine , Ventricular Function, Left , alpha-Galactosidase/adverse effects
13.
Scand J Med Sci Sports ; 20(1): e80-6, 2010 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19486477

ABSTRACT

UNLABELLED: This study measured the potentiation effects of plyometric training [normalized electromyography (EMG) in triceps surae, stiffness and elastic energy utilization of the Achilles tendon] and investigated the correlations between these effects and performances [voluntary electromechanical delay (EMD) and jump height]. Twenty-one subjects were randomly assigned either to the control group (10 subjects: age 22.3+/-1.6 years) or to a training group (11 subjects: age 22.1+/-1.6 years) that performed 8 weeks of plyometric training. RESULTS: As compared with the performances before training, normalized EMG in the soleus were significantly (P

Subject(s)
Exercise/physiology , Muscle Contraction/physiology , Muscle, Skeletal/physiology , Tendons/physiology , Achilles Tendon/physiology , Elasticity , Electromyography , Humans , Isometric Contraction/physiology , Male , Muscle Stretching Exercises , Prospective Studies , Task Performance and Analysis , Young Adult
14.
J Appl Microbiol ; 108(3): 917-924, 2010 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19737344

ABSTRACT

AIM: Chicken anaemia virus (CAV) causes an economically important viral disease in chickens worldwide. The main aim of this study was to establish a rapid, sensitive and specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for detecting CAV infection. METHODS AND RESULTS: A set of four specific LAMP primers were designed based on the nucleotide sequence of the CAV VP2 gene, which encodes a nonstructural protein. These were used for the amplification of a specific target region of the VP2 gene. LAMP amplicons were successfully amplified and detected by DNA electrophoresis and by direct naked eye SYBR Green I visualization. A sensitivity test systematically demonstrated that the LAMP assay was superior to a conventional PCR assay with a minimum concentration limit of 100 fg compared to 10 ng for the conventional PCR. The specificity of the LAMP assay for CAV detection is consistent with conventional PCR. Using this established LAMP assay, infected and uninfected clinical samples obtained from an experimental farm were fully verified. CONCLUSIONS: A novel nucleic acid-based approach of LAMP assay was successfully developed for detecting CAV infection. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In this study, these results indicate that the developed LAMP assay herein for CAV detection is a time-effective, simple, sensitive and specific test that can be used as an alternative approach in the future for large-scaled diagnosis on the farm of CAV infection.


Subject(s)
Chicken anemia virus/isolation & purification , Chickens/virology , Nucleic Acid Amplification Techniques/methods , Animals , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Chicken anemia virus/genetics , DNA Primers/genetics , Liver/virology , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Sensitivity and Specificity
15.
J Pediatr ; 152(4): 563-70, 570.e1, 2008 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18346516

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and explore the efficacy of enzyme replacement therapy with agalsidase beta (recombinant human alpha-galactosidase A; Fabrazyme [Genzyme Corporation, Cambridge, MA]) in pediatric patients with Fabry disease, a genetic disorder in which deficient endogenous enzyme causes pathogenic tissue accumulation of globotriaosylceramide (GL-3). STUDY DESIGN: Fourteen male and 2 female patients, 8 to 16 years old, were treated in this open-label study. A 12-week observation period to collect baseline data preceded the 48-week treatment period when agalsidase beta (1 mg/kg) was infused intravenously every 2 weeks. No primary efficacy end point was specified. RESULTS: Before treatment, results of skin biopsies from 12 male patients showed moderate or severe GL-3 accumulation in superficial dermal capillary endothelial cells; with treatment, these cells were completely cleared of GL-3 in week-24 biopsies from all 12 male patients and in all available week-48 biopsies. With treatment, reports of gastrointestinal symptoms declined steadily. Patient diaries documented significant reductions in school absences due to sickness. Agalsidase beta was generally well tolerated; most treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate infusion-associated reactions involving rigors, fever, or rhinitis. CONCLUSIONS: Agalsidase beta safely and effectively reduced the GL-3 accumulation in dermal endothelium already evident in children with Fabry disease. Early intervention may prevent irreversible end-organ damage from chronic GL-3 deposition.


Subject(s)
Dermis/metabolism , Fabry Disease/drug therapy , Isoenzymes/therapeutic use , Trihexosylceramides/metabolism , alpha-Galactosidase/therapeutic use , Adolescent , Antibodies/blood , Capillaries/metabolism , Child , Creatinine/blood , Dermis/blood supply , Endothelium/metabolism , Fabry Disease/blood , Fabry Disease/physiopathology , Female , Growth , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Infusions, Intravenous , Isoenzymes/adverse effects , Isoenzymes/immunology , Male , Nausea , alpha-Galactosidase/adverse effects , alpha-Galactosidase/immunology
17.
Eur J Surg Oncol ; 34(1): 23-9, 2008 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17890043

ABSTRACT

AIM: We used nationwide, population-based data to examine associations between hospital and surgeon volumes of gastric cancer resections and their patients' short-term and long-term survival likelihood. METHODS: The study uses 1997-1999 inpatient claims data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance linked to "cause of death" data for 1997-2004. The total cohort of 6909 gastric cancer resection patients were categorized by their surgeon's/hospital's procedure volume, and examined for differences in 6-month mortality and 5-year mortality (post 6 months), by procedure volume, using Cox proportional hazard regressions, adjusting for surgeon, hospital and patient characteristics. We hypothesized that surgeons' case volume and age but not hospital volume will predict short-term and long-term survival. RESULTS: Adjusted estimates show that increasing surgeon volume predicts better 6-month survival (adjusted mortality hazard ratio = 1.3 for low-volume surgeons relative to very high-volume surgeons; p < 0.01) and 5-year survival (adjusted mortality hazard ratios = 1.3; p < 0.001 for low-volume; 1.2 with p < 0.01 for medium volume) and increasing surgeon's age (adjusted hazards ratio = 1.4 for age < 41 years relative to 41-50 years; p < or = 0.001; 0.8 for > or = 51 years relative to 41-50 years; p < 0.05). In hospital volume regressions, surgeon's age is a consistent and significant predictor, not hospital volume. Findings suggest a key role of experience in surgical skill and sensitivity for early stage diagnosis in gastric cancer survival. CONCLUSIONS: Although a key study limitation is the lack of cancer stage data, the pattern of findings suggests that experienced surgeons have relatively better survival outcomes among gastric cancer patients.


Subject(s)
Gastrectomy/methods , Stomach Neoplasms/mortality , Stomach Neoplasms/surgery , Adult , Aged , Female , Hospitals , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Survival Rate , Taiwan , Time Factors
18.
Ther Clin Risk Manag ; 4(6): 1149-55, 2008 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19337422

ABSTRACT

Tolvaptan is a selective arginine vasopressin (AVP) V(2) receptor blocker used to induce free water diuresis in the treatment of euvolemic or hypervolemic hyponatremia. Currently the orally active medication is in the final stages prior to approval by the FDA for outpatient therapy. It appears to be safe and effective at promoting aquaresis and raising serum sodium levels in both short- and long-term studies. Tolvaptan is also effective for treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF) exacerbation, but whether there are long standing beneficial effects on CHF is still controversial. Prolonged use of tolvaptan leads to increased endogenous levels of AVP and perhaps over-stimulation of V(1A) receptors. Theoretically this activation could lead to increased afterload and cardiac myocyte fibrosis, causing progression of CHF. However, after 52 weeks of tolvaptan therapy there was no worsening of left ventricular dilatation. In addition, tolvaptan is metabolized by the CYP3A4 system; thus physicians should be aware of the potential for increased interactions with other medications. Tolvaptan is a breakthrough in the therapy of hyponatremia as it directly combats elevated AVP levels associated with the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone, congestive heart failure, and cirrhosis of the liver.

19.
Appl Opt ; 46(22): 5329-35, 2007 Aug 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17676147

ABSTRACT

Optical phase conjugation (OPC) provides a means of dynamical correction of thermally induced aberrations in high-power laser systems. This method is particularly interesting for space applications because it is passive, mechanically simple, and allows for improved beam quality with only a small loss in power. To exploit it one has to assess the effect of the space environment, and in particular of space radiation, on the properties of the materials that are suitable for phase-conjugating mirrors (PCMs). We have investigated both materials providing OPC via stimulated Brillouin scattering and actual PCMs with regard to their radiation hardness. Proton- and gamma-irradiated PCMs in the form of 30-cm long silica rods and 5-cm long TeO(2) crystals were tested in a single frequency flash-lamp pumped Nd:YAG system delivering up to 220 mJ pulses with a 20 ns duration at a 50 Hz repetition rate. The difference in the reflectivity between irradiated and nonirradiated components was found to be within the measurement errors. Gamma irradiation of TeO(2) resulted in a decrease of the laser-induced damage threshold, while for silica possible changes were below the detection limit. Our results show that synthetic fused silica, and Lithosil in particular, can be used for generating the OPC in laser systems operating in a space radiation environment.

20.
Inorg Chem ; 46(11): 4575-82, 2007 May 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17472373

ABSTRACT

The crystallographic and magnetic behaviors of (Tb1-xNax)MnO3-y (0

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