Interleukin-1β Expression Is Required for Lysophosphatidic Acid-Induced Lymphangiogenesis in Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a lipid mediator which binds to G-protein-coupled receptors and regulates various cellular responses, including inflammation of endothelial cells. Interleukin- (IL-) 1β, a proinflammatory cytokine, is elevated upon LPA treatment in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Previous studies indicated that LPA upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor- (VEGF-) C and lymphatic marker expressions in HUVECs. However, the relationships between LPA-induced VEGF-C and IL-1β expressions are not clear. In this paper, we demonstrated that, in the presence of AF12198, an inhibitor of the IL-1 receptor abolished LPA-induced VEGF-C and lymphatic marker expressions in HUVECs. Furthermore, LPA-induced in vitro tube formation of HUVECs was also suppressed by pretreatment with AF12198. Our results suggest that LPA-stimulated lymphangiogenesis in HUVECs is mediated through IL-1β-induced VEGF-C expression

Esophageal Food Impaction: A Homemade Suction Tube Attached to Esophagogastroduodenoscopy for Food Bolus Removal

The most common esophageal foreign body in adults is impacted food bolus. Polypectomy snares, Dormia baskets, retrieval nets, rat-tooth forceps, alligator forceps or polyp graspers are usually used to remove it. Here, we report the case of a 78-year-old woman whose esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) showed a firm goose liver impacted tightly in the lower esophagus; all of the above-mentioned retrieval instruments could not remove it. We used a homemade device by attaching a modified nasogastric tube to an EGD and successfully removed the goose liver by suction under endoscopic visualization. The method is very effective to remove firm and tightly impacted materials in a narrow lumen. When the usual retrieval instruments fail, a homemade suction tube attached to an EGD is an alternative

Wear Characteristics of a Laser Surface Alloyed Al-Mg-Si with Co Alloy Powder

The microstructure and wear resistance of a laser surface alloyed Al-Mg-Si with Co alloy powder were investigated. The experimental results indicate that a porosity-free zone can be generated but some cracks appear after laser surface alloying (LSA). In this investigation, two regions, A (surface region) and B (bottom region), are observed in the pool. Al 9 Co 2 particles with a network structure are present in region A and block-like Al 13 Co 4 particles are distributed in region B. The hardness of the LSA specimens is three to nine times higher than that of the Almatrix. The high hardness of LSA specimens cause them to exhibit excellent sliding wear performance so they have a lower friction coefficient and wear rate. Notably, the critical temperature of the sliding wear resistance of the LSA specimen exceeds that of the Al-matrix by approximately 50 K

Nanotargeted Radionuclides for Cancer Nuclear Imaging and Internal Radiotherapy

Current progress in nanomedicine has exploited the possibility of designing tumor-targeted nanocarriers being able to deliver radionuclide payloads in a site or molecular selective manner to improve the efficacy and safety of cancer imaging and therapy. Radionuclides of auger electron-, α-, β-, and γ-radiation emitters have been surface-bioconjugated or after-loaded in nanoparticles to improve the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of cancer imaging and therapy in preclinical and clinical studies. This article provides a brief overview of current status of applications, advantages, problems, up-to-date research and development, and future prospects of nanotargeted radionuclides in cancer nuclear imaging and radiotherapy. Passive and active nanotargeting delivery of radionuclides with illustrating examples for tumor imaging and therapy are reviewed and summarized. Research on combing different modes of selective delivery of radionuclides through nanocarriers targeted delivery for tumor imaging and therapy offers the new possibility of large increases in cancer diagnostic efficacy and therapeutic index. However, further efforts and challenges in preclinical and clinical efficacy and toxicity studies are required to translate those advanced technologies to the clinical applications for cancer patients

Using Linear Regression to Identify Critical Demographic Variables Affecting Patient Safety Culture From Viewpoints of Physicians and Nurses

Background: The issues of patient safety and healthcare quality have become increasingly important around the world since the 1990s. Many hospitals manage to reduce the number of adverse events (AEs) that can threaten patient safety in healthcare organizations. Assessing the existing patient safety culture gives hospital management a clear vision of an organization’s strengths and weaknesses. The Safety Attitudes Questionnaire, with its good psychometric properties and great internal consistency, has been used extensively to assess the patient safety culture in healthcare organizations.Objective: Physicians and nurses form the core staff of each organization. With different demographic variables, they might perceive patient safety culture differently. This study purposed to identify critical demographic variables from the viewpoints of physicians and nurses that significantly influence the patient safety culture in a regional teaching hospital in Taiwan.Methods: Linear regression with forward selection was employed in this study to focus on all physicians and nurses using results of a 2015 internal survey in the case hospital. Ten demographic variables were the independent variables, and seven dimensions of the Chinese version of the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire were dependent variables.Results: Four out of 10 demographic variables had significant impacts on 6 out of 7 dimensions (with the exception of emotional exhaustion) from the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire. “Supervisor/manager” and “experience in position” followed by “age” were viewed by physicians and nurses as the most critical variables affecting the patient safety culture in this regional teaching hospital in Taiwan.Conclusion: Assessing an organization’s current patient safety culture provides a significant value to improving patient safety. This study revealed that “supervisor/manager” and “experience in position” are the 2 most important demographic variables influencing the patient safety culture. Hospital management should take heed of the suggestions of staff members regarding these characteristics to continuously enhance their patient safety culture

Pseudomonas aeruginosa sepsis with ecthyma gangrenosum and pseudomembranous pharyngolaryngitis in a 5-month-old boy

Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection that induced pseudomembranous laryngopharyngitis and ecthyma gangrenosum simultaneously in a healthy infant is rare. We reported on a previously healthy 5-month-old boy with initial presentation of fever and diarrhea followed by stridor and progressive respiratory distress. P. aeruginosa sepsis was suspected because ecthyma gangrenosum over the right leg was found at the emergency department, and the diagnosis was confirmed by the blood culture. Fiberscope revealed bacterial pharyngolaryngitis without involvement of the trachea. Because of early recognition and adequate treatment, including antimicrobial therapy, noninvasive ventilation, incision, and drainage, he recovered completely without any complications

Risk factors for pulmonary tuberculosis in patients with chronic obstructive airway disease in Taiwan: a nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND: An association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and tuberculosis (TB) has been described, mainly due to smoking and corticosteroid use. Whether inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) therapy is associated with an increased risk of TB remains unclear. METHODS: We selected COPD cases by using six diagnostic scenarios and control subjects from a nationwide health insurance database, and applied time-dependent Cox regression analysis to identify the risk factors for TB. RESULTS: Among 1,000,000 beneficiaries, 23,594 COPD cases and 47,188 non-COPD control subjects were selected. Cox regression analysis revealed that age, male gender, diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease, and cirrhosis, as well as COPD (hazard ratio = 2.468 [2.205–2.762]) were independent risk factors for TB. Among the COPD cases, those who developed TB received more oral corticosteroids and oral β-agonists. Time-dependent Cox regression analysis revealed that age, male gender, diabetes mellitus, low income, oral corticosteroid dose, and oral β-agonist dose, but not ICS dose, were independent risk factors for TB. The identified risk factors and their hazard ratios were similar among the COPD cases selected using different scenarios. CONCLUSION: Keeping a high suspicion and regularly monitoring for the development of pulmonary TB in COPD patients are necessary, especially for those receiving higher doses of oral corticosteroids and other COPD medications. Although ICS therapy has been shown to predispose COPD patients to pneumonia in large randomized clinical trials, it does not increase the risk of TB in real world practice