Differentiation of Foot-and-Mouth Disease-Infected pigs from Vaccinated Pigs Using Antibody-Detecting Sandwich ELISA

The presence of serum antibodies for nonstructural proteins of the foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) can differentiate FMDV-infected animals from vaccinated animals. In this study, a sandwich ELISA was developed for rapid detection of the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) antibodies; it was based on an Escherichia coli-expressed, highly conserved region of the 3ABC nonstructural protein of the FMDV O/TW/99 strain and a monoclonal antibody derived from the expressed protein. The diagnostic sensitivity of the assay was 98.4%, and the diagnostic specificity was 100% for naïve and vaccinated pigs; the detection ability of the assay was comparable those of the PrioCHECK and UBI kits. There was 97.5, 93.4 and 66.6% agreement between the results obtained from our ELISA and those obtained from the PrioCHECK, UBI and CHEKIT kits, respectively. The kappa statistics were 0.95, 0.87 and 0.37, respectively. Moreover, antibodies for nonstructural proteins of the serotypes A, C, Asia 1, SAT 1, SAT 2 and SAT 3 were also detected in bovine sera. Furthermore, the absence of cross-reactions generated by different antibody titers against the swine vesicular disease virus and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) was also highlighted in this assay's specificit

Healthcare costs associated with progressive diabetic retinopathy among National Health Insurance enrollees in Taiwan, 2000-2004

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common microvascular complications of diabetes and one of the major causes of adult visual impairment in national surveys in Taiwan. This study aimed to identify the healthcare costs of Taiwan's National Health Insurance program on behalf of diabetic patients with stable or progressive retinopathy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 4,988 medication-using diabetic retinopathy subjects ≥ 40 years of age under National Health Insurance Program coverage between 2000 and 2004. Study cohort subjects were recorded as having diabetic retinopathy according to ICD-9-CM codes. States of diabetic retinopathy were strategically divided into stable and progressive categories according to subjects' conditions at follow-up in 2004. Expenditures were calculated and compared for the years 2000 and 2004.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>During the 4-year follow-up (2000 through 2004), 4,116 subjects (82.5%) of 4,988 diabetic subjects were in the stable category, and 872 (17.5%) were in the progressive category. Average costs of those in the normal category increased by US $48 from US$1921 in 2000 to US $1969 in 2004 (p = 0.594), whereas costs for those progressing from normal to non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) or proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) increased by US$1760, from US $1566 in 2000 to US$3326 in 2004 (p < 0.001). The PDR category had the highest average costs at US $3632 in 2000. The NPDR-to-PDR category experienced the greatest increase in costs at US$3482, from US $2723 in 2000 to US$6204 in 2004 (p = 0.042), and the greatest percentage of increase at 2.3% (2.2% when adjusted by comparing to normal category).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This large-scale longitudinal study provides evidence that increased healthcare costs are associated with progressive diabetic retinopathy among diabetic NHI enrollees in Taiwan.</p

Identification of a New Peptide for Fibrosarcoma Tumor Targeting and Imaging In Vivo

A 12-mer amino acid peptide SATTHYRLQAAN, denominated TK4, was isolated from a phage-display library with fibrosarcoma tumor-binding activity. In vivo biodistribution analysis of TK4-displaying phage showed a significant increased phage titer in implanted tumor up to 10-fold in comparison with normal tissues after systemic administration in mouse. Competition assay confirmed that the binding of TK4-phage to tumor cells depends on the TK4 peptide. Intravenous injection of 131I-labeled synthetic TK4 peptide in mice showed a tumor retention of 3.3% and 2.7% ID/g at 1- and 4-hour postinjection, respectively. Tumor-to-muscle ratio was 1.1, 5.7, and 3.2 at 1-, 4-, and 24-hour, respectively, and tumors were imaged on a digital γ-camera at 4-hour postinjection. The present data suggest that TK4 holds promise as a lead structure for tumor targeting, and it could be further applied in the development of diagnostic or therapeutic agent

Controlling of structural ordering and rigidity of β-SiAlON:Eu through chemical cosubstitution to approach narrow-band-emission for light-emitting diodes application

The authors are grateful for the financial support of the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan (Contract Nos. MOST 104- 2113-M-002-012-MY3, MOST 104-2119-M-002-027-MY3 and 104-2923-M-002-007-MY3) and Australia Research Council (ARC, FT160100251). The contribution of A. L. was supported by the grant “Preludium” UMO-2014/13/N/ST3/03781 from the National Science Center. The contribution of S. M. was supported by the grant “Iuventus Plus” 0271/IP3/2015/73 from the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. M. G. was supported by Polish National Center for Research and Development with grants no PBS3/A5/48/2015 and PL-TWII/8/2015.Narrow-band green-emitting phosphor β-SiAlON:Eu has been widely used in advanced wide-gamut backlighting de- vices. However, the origins for unusual sharp lines in photoluminescence emission at room temperature and tunable narrow-band- emission tailored by reducing Al-O in β-SiAlON:Eu are still unclear. Here, the presence of sharp-line fine structure in the emission spectra of β-SiAlON:Eu is mainly due to purely electronic transitions (zero phonon lines) and their vibronic repetitions resulted from the multi-microenvironment around Eu2+ ions that has been revealed by relative emission intensity of sharp line depends on excitation wavelength and monotonously increasing decay time. The specific features of the Eu2+ occupying interstitial sites indicate that the effect of crystal field strength can be neglected. Therefore the enhanced rigidity and higher ordering structure of β-SiAlON:Eu with decreasing the substitution of Si–N by Al–O become the main factors in decreasing electron–lattice coupling and reducing inhomo- geneous broadening, favouring the blue-shift and narrow of the emission band, the enhanced thermal stability, as well as the charge state of Eu2+. Our results provide new insights for explaining the reason for narrow-band-emission in β-SiAlON:Eu, which will deliver an impetus for the exploration of phosphors with narrow band and ordering structure.PostprintPeer reviewe

The Price Reaction of Global Depositary Receipts(GDR)--The Empi- rical Study of Taiwanese Listing Companies

財政部證管會為促進國內證券市場國際化及自由化並便利國內企業至國外籌募資金，於民國八十一年四月十五日公佈實施「上市發行公司參與發行海外存託憑證審核要點」，以鼓勵我國證券發行人或持有人發行海外存託憑證(GDR)。迄今已有中鋼、亞泥、統一、嘉泥、東雲與台揚等上市公司完成發行，而大眾電腦與信益陶瓷也通過證管會的審核，正在等待時機發行。除此之外，更有其他的上市公司，如：東鋼、燁隆、華榮電線電纜及和成等公司，也搶搭海外存託憑證的發行列車。既然GDR已繼海外可轉換公司債而成為國內上市公司海外籌資的重要金融工具，因此有必要對GDR的本質做個通盤性的瞭解。除了探討GDR發行後的折溢價情形外，由於GDR是在海外市場交易且以美元計價，故GDR對國內重大事件的價格行為反應以及新台幣匯率的變動對GDR報酬率的影響為何，亦是本研究的重點。根據資料蒐集的可行性，本研究以中鋼、亞泥、統一及嘉泥等四家公司為樣本，以簡單迴歸及事件研究法來進行實證研究，得到以下的發現： 1：海外存託憑證的價格總是處在不均衡的狀態，若可進行套利，則海外存託憑證與其表彰股票的價值終將相等，而達到均衡。但對於台灣上市公司所發行的海外存託憑證而言，由於法令的限制，使得海外存託憑證的溢價期間比折價的期間還要長。 2：新台幣的匯率效果對於海外存託憑證的報酬率有影響。 3：台灣發行之海外存託憑證其價格行為反應與表彰股票的反應有異。之所以會有上述的發現，本研究認為除了法令的限制外，國內上市公司所發行GDR的歷史不算長，故海外投資人對台灣之GDR還很陌生。此外，區隔的金融市場造成資訊傳遞上的障礙以及海外投資人對資訊重視的程度與國內投資人有別，亦為可能的解釋

[[alternative]]Utilization of Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy among National Health Insurance enrollees in Taiwan

[[abstract]]背景：目前全球約有一億三千五百萬以上的糖尿病患人口，隨著社會經濟的繁榮及國民生活型態的改變，糖尿病患的數目在全世界各地均有上昇的趨勢。由於糖尿病容易引發多種的併發症，這些併發症不僅嚴重的影響到糖尿病患的生活品質，也增加許多醫療上的經濟負擔。過去，有關糖尿病的研究多屬於以醫院為基礎的研究，或是針對特定地區為主的區域型研究；而糖尿病視網膜病變之流行病學或相關資源耗用相關研究亦同，多是屬於區域性之個案研究，缺乏全面性之研究。目的：本研究計畫利用全民健保資料庫，觀察與分析台灣地區糖尿病患者之疾病及醫療費用關係。方法：本研究採取橫斷性的研究，分析2004年台灣地區糖尿病患者之醫療費用及其影響因素。從國家衛生研究院全民健康保險學術資料庫中的二十萬筆歸人檔資料進行分析；接著根據ICD-9-CM診斷碼及降血糖藥品碼精確篩選出糖尿病患者4,988人，視網膜病變患者1,216人，進一步將糖尿病患者之人口學特性、系統疾病特性、視網膜病變嚴重度、醫療費用耗用等變項進行統計分析，以探討各變項之關係。結果：本研究發現，在糖尿病患者醫療耗用分析中，台灣地區2004年糖尿病患者之平均總醫療費用支出為77,443元；其中，男性高於女性，年齡越高者的醫療費用越高，系統疾病嚴重度越高者及視網膜病變嚴重度越高者，其總醫療費用也越高。從複迴歸分析結果發現，影響糖尿病患者醫療費用之因素為性別、年齡、視網膜病變之嚴重度、合併之系統疾病類別，均達到統計上顯著差異。進一步從糖尿病視網膜病變併發症的有無，來觀察糖尿病病患的醫療資源耗用情況，發現台灣地區2004年糖尿病視網膜病變病患平均總醫療費用為128,661元，明顯高於無視網膜病變之患者，為無合併視網膜病變患者的2.02倍；其中，門診次數每年平均36.9次，比沒有視網膜病變的患者高9.6次，住院天數平均6.9天也比無視網膜病變患者高2.3天。結論：台灣地區糖尿病患的醫療資源耗用的增加，的確值得我們注意與研究，而有糖尿病視網膜病變併發症的糖尿病患，在總醫療費用、門診次數、住院天數均高於沒有視網膜病變的病患。因此，由本研究可得知及早預防視網膜病變的發生與治療視網膜病變的併發症，對台灣地區糖尿病患者醫療費用的減少與醫療品質的改善，有相當的助益與實證。[[abstract]]Background: Due to changing social economics and life styles, the number of diabetic patients has gradually increased all around the world. Accompanying with increasing prevalence and incidence, health expenditure related to diabetics has also risen much more with in the past decades. Multiple systemic complications are found with diabetes, and they would not only influence quality of life of patients but also result in much economic burden including notorious diabetic retinopathy. In the past decades, most researches about diabetic retinopathy were hospital-based or regional studies. There are few population-based and comprehensive studies.Purpose: A cross-sectional study in Taiwan is conducted to investigate health expenditure and associated factors among adult diabetics in 2004, including diabetic retinopathy. Methods: The current research is based on the National Health Insurance academic database in 2004 with random sampling of 200,000 people from 23,750,000 people. Out of which, 4,988 diabetic patients are then identified according to ICD-9-CM codes and drug codes.Results: The average amount of total medical expenditure of diabetic patients in Taiwan is 77,443 NT dollars in 2004. The significant associated factors are male gender, the elderly, and the severity of comorbidity. The average amont of total medical expenditure of diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy is 128,661 NT dollars in 2004, which is higher than that of diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (about 2.02-folds). The average amount of OPD visits of diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy is 36.9 times, which is still higher than that of those without diabetic retinopathy. The average length of hospital stay is 6.9 days, higher than that of those without diabetic retinopathy.Conclusions:In our current study, adult diabetic NHI enrollees with diabetic retinopathy are consistently more expensive than those without diabetic retinopathy. Demographic factors (gender, age) and clinical factors (comorbidity and retinopathy) are able to predict somewhat a portion of medical expenditure in 2004. This nationwide, population-based study provides strong evidence that controlling severity and comorbidity of diabetes itself along with diabetic complications (such as diabetic retinopathy) is worthy in terms of medical expenditure, OPD visits and days of hospital stay

[[alternative]]Healthcare Utilization by Patients with Diabetes and Diabetic Retinopathy among National Health Insurance Enrollees in Taiwan

[[abstract]]目標：過去，有關糖尿病視網膜病變的研究多屬於以醫院為基礎，或是針對特定地區為主的區域型研究，缺乏全面性之探討；因此，本研究欲利用全民健保資料庫來觀察與分析台灣地區糖尿病視網膜病變患者之疾病及醫療費用關係。方法：採橫斷性研究，從2004年國家衛生研究院全民健康保險學術資料庫中根據ICD-9-CM診斷碼及降血糖藥品碼精確篩選出糖尿病患者4,988人、視網膜病變患者1,216人進行統計分析。結果：台灣地區2004年糖尿病視網膜病變病患平均總醫療費用為128,661元，為無合併視網膜病變患者的2.02倍；其中，門診次數每年平均36.9次高於無視網膜病變患者9.6次，住院天數平均6.9天亦高於無視網膜病變患者2.3天。結論：有視網膜病變併發症的糖尿病患，在總醫療費用、門診次數、住院天數均高於沒有視網膜病變的糖尿病患，並且隨著視網膜病變的嚴重度增加而提升醫療資源耗用。因此，由本研究可得知及早預防視網膜病變的發生與治療現網膜病變的併發症，對台灣地區糖尿病患者醫療費用的減少，有相當的助益與實證。[[abstract]]Objectives: In the past decades, most diabetic retinopathy research included either hospital-based or regional studies with few population-based and comprehensive studies. Therefore, a cross-sectional study in Taiwan was conducted to investigate the health expenditure and associated factors amongst adult diabetics in 2004, including those with diabetic retinopathy. Methods: Data from the National Health Insurance Academic Database in 2004 identified 4,988 diabetics along with 1,216 patients with diabetic retinopathy based upon ICD-9-CM and drug codes. Results: The average total medical expenditure of diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy was 128,661 NT dollars in 2004, which was 2.02-fold higher than that of diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy. In addition, the average number of outpatient department (OPD) visits by diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy was 36.9, which is again higher than those without diabetic retinopathy. Finally, the average length of hospital stay for patients with diabetic retinopathy was longer than those without diabetic retinopathy (6.9 days versus, respectively). Conclusions: In this study, adults with diabetic retinopathy, who were NHI enrollees, were consistently more expensive than diabetic adults without diabetic retinopathy. This nationwide, population-based study provides strong evidence that controlling the severity and comorbidity of diabetes along with its associated complications such as diabetic retinopathy is worthy in terms of medical expenditure, OPD visits, and length of hospital stay