Prevalence and molecular characterization of plasmidmediated beta-lactamase genes among nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus isolated in Taiwan

Purpose: To analyze the drug susceptibility phenotypes and the patterns of plasmid-mediated β- lactamase genes among nosocomial Staphylococcus aureus drug resistance isolates in Taiwan.Methods: The antibiotic susceptibilities of 617 clinical Staphylococcus aureus isolates collected from 2005 - 2009 from Chiayi Christian Hospital (Chiayi, Taiwan) were examined in vitro against 8 antimicrobial agents using agar diffusion method. Among the clinical isolates, 114 strains of methicillinsensitive Staphylococcus aureus and 45 strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates were selected for plasmid profile analysis. The patterns of β-lactamase genes presented in plasmids were investigated by polymerase chain reaction analysis.Results: Most test strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics, particularly for the traditional agents such as ampicillin, penicillin, cephalexin and kanamycin. Plasmid profile analysis revealed that up to 36 % of the clinical strains harbored plasmids and were able to develop multi-drug resistant. Among them, most of the isolates harbored at least one plasmid (range 1 – 7) with a size range of 2.3 to 23 Kb. Among the several types of β-lactamases, blaTEM was the most prevalent.Conclusion: The results obtained from this study can serve as a valuable reference for the future control for clinical antibiotic resistant strains and more thorough discussions on resistance mechanisms.Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, Antibiotic susceptibility, Nosocomial pathogens, Plasmid profile, β- lactamase

A Model to Predict Total Chlorine Residue in the Cooling Seawater of a Power Plant Using Iodine Colorimetric Method

A model experiment monitoring the fate of total residue oxidant (TRO) in water at a constant temperature and salinity indicated that it decayed exponentially with time, and with TRO decaying faster in seawater than in distilled water. The reduction of TRO by temperature (°K) was found to fit a curvilinear relationship in distilled water (r2 = 0.997) and a linear relationship in seawater (r2 = 0.996). Based on the decay rate, flow rate, and the length of cooling water flowing through at a given temperature, the TRO level in the cooling water of a power plant could be estimated using the equation developed in this study. This predictive model would provide a benchmark for power plant operators to adjust the addition of chlorine to levels necessary to control bio-fouling of cooling water intake pipelines, but without irritating ambient marine organisms

Comparative Geochemistry of 234Th, 210Pb, and 210Po: A Case Study in the Hung-Tsai Trough off Southwestern Taiwan

Detailed profiles of dissolved and particulate 234Th, 210Pb, and 210Po activities at three stations in the Hung-Tsai Trough off south western Taiwan were determined. The total 234Th activ ity is 20 ~ 25% deficientfrom its secular equilibrium in the entire water column. Except for an evident excess of 210Po at some depths in the mixed layer and in the pycnocline layer, total 210Po activity is also lower than total 210Pb activity. As a result of atmospheric deposition, 210Pb is about 25% in excess of its parent, 226Ra, through out the water column of the Hung-Tsai Trough. The ratios of the distribution coefficients of 234Th, 210Pb, and 210Po show that the order of particle affinity is Po > Th ~ Pb in the mixed layer and bottom layer, whereas the order changes, due to particlere generation, into Th > Pb > Po in the pycnocline layer of the Hung-Tsai Trough

Association between Internet gaming disorder and generalized anxiety disorder

Introduction This study evaluates the association between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and Internet gaming disorder (IGD) and the role of behavior inhibition in young adults. Methods We recruited 87 people with IGD and a control group of 87 people without a history of IGD. All participants underwent a diagnostic interview based on the fifth edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, IGD and GAD criteria, and completed a questionnaire on behavior inhibition, depression, and anxiety. Results Logistic regression revealed that adults with GAD were more likely (odds ratio = 8.11, 95% CI = 1.78−37.09) to have IGD than those without it. The OR decreased when controlling for behavior inhibition. IGD subjects with GAD had higher depressive and anxiety score than those without GAD. Conclusions GAD was associated with IGD. Comorbid GAD can contribute to higher emotional difficulty. GAD should be well-assessed and interventions planned when treating young adults with IGD. Behavioral inhibition confounds the association between GAD and IGD. Further study is necessary to evaluate how to intervene in behavioral inhibitions to attenuate the risk of GAD and IGD comorbidity

Effective Interventions and Decline of Antituberculosis Drug Resistance in Eastern Taiwan, 2004–2008

BACKGROUND: The Taiwan health authority recently launched several tuberculosis (TB) control interventions, which may have an impact on the epidemic of drug-resistant TB. We conducted a population-based antituberculosis drug resistance surveillance program in Eastern Taiwan to measure the proportions of notified TB patients with anti-TB drug resistance and the trend from 2004 to 2008. METHODS AND FINDINGS: All culture-positive TB patients were enrolled. Drug susceptibility testing results of the first isolate of each TB patient in each treatment course were analyzed. In total, 2688 patients were included, of which 2176 (81.0%) were new TB cases and 512 (19.0%) were previously treated cases. Among the 2176 new TB cases, 97 (4.5%) were retreated after the first episode of TB treatment within the study period. The proportion of new patients with any resistance, isoniazid resistance but not multidrug-resistant TB (resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampin, MDR-TB), and MDR-TB was 16.4%, 7.5%, and 4.0%, respectively, and that among previously treated cases was 30.9%, 7.9%, and 17.6%, respectively. The combined proportion of any resistance decreased from 23.3% in 2004 to 14.3% in 2008, and that of MDR-TB from 11.5% to 2.4%. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of TB patients with drug-resistant TB in Eastern Taiwan remains substantial. However, an effective TB control program has successfully driven the proportion of drug resistance among TB patients downward

Sustained proliferation in cancer: mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets

Proliferation is an important part of cancer development and progression. This is manifest by altered expression and/or activity of cell cycle related proteins. Constitutive activation of many signal transduction pathways also stimulates cell growth. Early steps in tumor development are associated with a fibrogenic response and the development of a hypoxic environment which favors the survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells. Part of the survival strategy of cancer stem cells may manifested by alterations in cell metabolism. Once tumors appear, growth and metastasis may be supported by overproduction of appropriate hormones (in hormonally dependent cancers), by promoting angiogenesis, by undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition, by triggering autophagy, and by taking cues from surrounding stromal cells. A number of natural compounds (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol, brassinin, sulforaphane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, ellagitannins, lycopene and quercetin) have been found to inhibit one or more pathways that contribute to proliferation (e.g., hypoxia inducible factor 1, nuclear factor kappa B, phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt, insulin-like growth factor receptor 1, Wnt, cell cycle associated proteins, as well as androgen and estrogen receptor signaling). These data, in combination with bioinformatics analyses, will be very important for identifying signaling pathways and molecular targets that may provide early diagnostic markers and/or critical targets for the development of new drugs or drug combinations that block tumor formation and progression

Healthcare service evolution towards the Internet of Things: an end-user perspective

For the last two decades the Internet of Things (IoT) has been a subject of growing global interest. Particularly dynamic industries such as the healthcare service sector have just begun to understand the benefits of the IoT for the provision of a new, more advanced type of services. However, whilst the healthcare service industry is yet to fully grasp the benefits of information systems for its practitioners and managers, and for patients and families, there is a need for a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated to IoT-based healthcare systems as another disruptive wave of technologies. In particular, research on the relevance of users’ skills for adoption of IoT-based healthcare services has been limited. Using the current Internet-based healthcare service landscape as a platform for the formulation and testing of its hypotheses, this paper explores the relationship between patients’ capabilities for effective use of information and communication technologies and the success of IoT-based healthcare services. The resulting theoretical model for effective use of information and communication technologies and the success of IoT-based healthcare services was then validated. The validation was based on data collected from a randomly selected sample of 256 users of Internet-based healthcare services provided by the public healthcare system of the Region of Murcia in Spain. The findings of this research inform future strategies for the implementation of new generations of health and well-being services based on IoT technologies

Protective Effect of Curcumin on Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Effects Induced by Repeated Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles in Mice

Particulate air pollution has been associated with increased risk of cardiopulmonary diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We have previously demonstrated that single dose exposure to diesel exhaust particle (DEP) causes lung inflammation and peripheral thrombotic events. Here, we exposed mice with repeated doses of DEP (15µg/animal) every 2nd day for 6 days (a total of 4 exposures), and measured several cardiopulmonary endpoints 48 h after the end of the treatments. Moreover, the potential protective effect of curcumin (the yellow pigment isolated from turmeric) on DEP-induced cardiopulmonary toxicity was assessed. DEP exposure increased macrophage and neutrophil numbers, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, and enhanced airway resistance to methacoline measured invasively using Flexivent. DEP also significantly increased plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and TNF α concentrations, systolic blood pressure (SBP) as well as the pial arteriolar thrombosis. It also significantly enhanced the plasma D-dimer and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Pretreatment with curcumin by oral gavage (45 mg/kg) 1h before exposure to DEP significantly prevented the influx of inflammatory cells and the increase of TNF α in BAL, and the increased airway resistance caused by DEP. Likewise, curcumin prevented the increase of SBP, CRP, TNF α, D-dimer and PAI-1. The thrombosis was partially but significantly mitigated. In conclusion, repeated exposure to DEP induced lung and systemic inflammation characterized by TNFα release, increased SBP, and accelerated coagulation. Our findings indicate that curcumin is a potent anti-inflammatory agent that prevents the release of TNFα and protects against the pulmonary and cardiovascular effects of DEP

Equilibrium Shape of Crystals

This chapter discusses the equilibrium crystal shape (ECS) from a physical perspective, beginning with a historical introduction to the Wulff theorem. It takes advantage of excellent prior reviews, particularly in the late 1980's, recapping highlights from them. It contains many ideas and experiments subsequent to those reviews. Alternatives to Wulff constructions are presented. Controversies about the critical behavior near smooth edges on the ECS are recounted, including the eventual resolution. Particular attention is devoted to the origin of sharp edges on the ECS, to the impact of reconstructed or adsorbed surface phases coexisting with unadorned phases, and to the role and nature of possible attractive step-step interactions.Comment: Review from Handbook of Crystal Growth, Fundamentals, 2nd ed., T. Nishinaga, ed. (Elsevier, Amsterdam, 2015), vol. 1A (Thermodynamics and Kinetics), ch. 5, pp. 215-264; ISBN 9780444563699/eBook:9780444593764; http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780444563699000058. 26 figs., reformatted into Phys. Rev. style, 30 pages; slightly modified, alphabetized bibliography, inc. title