Browsing by Author "Wu P.-Y."

This case-control study aimed to characterize the factors associated with amebiasis, defined as presence of anti-Entamoeba histolytica antibody titers of ? 128 by indirect hemagglutination assay, among persons seeking voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Between April 2006 and September 2009, 57 of 4,802 persons (1.2%) seeking VCT services were seropositive for E. histolytica infection. Compared with 228 seronegative controls, case subjects were older (odds ratio [OR] for per 1-year increase, 1.098; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.036, 1.165), less likely to hold bachelor degree or higher (OR, 0.359; 95% CI, 0.152, 0.846), and were more likely to be men who have sex with men (MSM) (OR, 8.382; 95% CI, 2.050, 34.266) and have oral-anal sex (OR, 4.016; 95% CI, 1.711, 9.427) in multiple logistic regression analysis. The MSM, fecal-oral contamination, lower educational achievement, and older age were associated with increased risk for amebiasis among persons seeking VCT for HIV infection. Copyright ? 2011 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

The structure and T cell stimulatory effects of the recently discovered cytokine IL-23 are similar to, but distinct from, those of IL-12. Although the antitumor activities of IL-12 are well characterized, the effect of IL-23 on tumor growth is not known. In this study, murine CT26 colon adenocarcinoma and B16F1 melanoma cells were engineered using retroviral vectors to release single-chain IL-23 (scIL-23) to evaluate its antitumor activity. In BALB/c mice, scIL-23-transduced CT26 cells grew progressively until day 26 to an average size of 521 ± 333 mm3, then the tumors started to regress in most animals, resulting in a final 70% rate of complete tumor rejection. scIL-23 transduction also significantly suppressed lung metastases of CT26 and B16F1 tumor cells. In addition, mice that rejected scIL-23-transduced tumors developed a memory response against subsequent wild-type tumor challenge. Compared with scIL-12-expressing CT26 cells, scIL-23-transduced tumors lacked the early response, but achieved comparable antitumor and antimetastatic activity. These results demonstrated that IL-23, like IL-12, provided effective protection against malignant diseases, but it probably acted by different antitumor mechanisms. As a first step in identifying these antitumor mechanisms, tumor challenge studies were performed in immunocompromised hosts and in animals selectively depleted of various lymphocyte populations. The results showed that CD8+ T cells, but not CD4+ T cells or NK cells, were crucial for the antitumor activity of IL-23.

Background/Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with Chlamydia trachomatis infection and the genotype distribution of the strains among the clients seeking voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Taiwan. Methods: The VCT clients completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire interview to inquire into the risks for sexually transmitted diseases, followed by providing a 10-mL first-catch urine specimen to detect C. trachomatis with the use of polymerase-chain-reaction assays. The genotyping of C. trachomatis strains was performed by sequencing of omp1 gene. A case-control study was performed to identify factors associated with chlamydial infection. Results: From 2008 to 2011, 140 (4.2%) of the 3323 VCT clients tested positive for C. trachomatis by polymerase chain reaction assays of urine specimens. Compared with 280 control individuals without C. trachomatis infection, cases were more likely to be female (adjusted odds ratio, 3.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.56-6.90) and to report dysuria or urethral discharge (adjusted odds ratio, 2.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.44-4.61). Infections with genotypes Da and G were significantly more common in male than female individuals (genotype Da, 22.2% vs. 0%; and genotype G, 24.4% vs. 3.3%) and in men who have sex with men than heterosexuals (genotype Da, 22.2% vs. 0%; and genotype G, 24.4% vs. 3.3%). Conclusion: Among the VCT clients in Taiwan, female sex and presence of urethral symptoms were associated with C. trachomatis infection of the genitourinary tract. Homosexual male clients were more likely to be infected with genotypes Da and G than heterosexual clients were. ? 2013, Taiwan Society of Microbiology.

Background/Purpose: Little is known about the factors associated with syphilis among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) with access to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) in Taiwan, where MSM has re-emerged as the leading risk group for HIV transmission. Methods: From March to October 2011, MSM who regularly attended HIV clinics at a university hospital were invited to participate in the study. A structured questionnaire interview was conducted to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, immunologic and virologic status, sexual partners and patterns of sexual behavior, and use of recreational drugs. Results: During the study period, 310 HIV-infected MSM with a mean age of 35.5 years were enrolled, of which 82.3% (. n=255) were sexually active and 37.4% (. n=116) used recreational drugs in the past 6 months. Syphilis was self-reported in 46.5% (. n=144) of the participants after HIV infection was diagnosed and 37.5% (112/299) had serologic evidence of syphilis within 1 year before enrollment. Multivariate logistic regression analysis limited to those who were receiving cART showed that higher CD4 counts [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 1.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-1.34], lower educational achievement (AOR: 1.95; 95% CI: 1.05-3.63), serosorting (AOR: 3.32; 95% CI: 1.04-10.63), and use of recreational drugs (AOR: 2.55; 95% CI: 1.26-5.13) were associated with syphilis. Conclusion: Improved immune status, lower educational achievement, serosorting, and use of recreational drugs were associated with syphilis among HIV-infected MSM who were receiving cART. These findings suggest that strengthening client-specific counseling is needed to reduce risks for syphilis among HIV-infected MSM in Taiwan. ? 2013, Taiwan Society of Microbiology.

Fucosylation regulates various pathological events in cells. We reported that different levels of CRT (calreticulin) affect the cell adhesion and metastasis of bladder cancer. However, the precise mechanism of tumour metastasis regulated by CRT remains unclear. Using a DNA array, we identified FUT1 (fucosyltransferase 1) as a gene regulated by CRT expression levels. CRT regulated cell adhesion through α1,2-linked fucosylation of ?1 integrin and this modification was catalysed by FUT1. To clarify the roles for FUT1 in bladder cancer, we transfected the human FUT1 gene into CRT-RNAi stable cell lines. FUT1 overexpression inCRT-RNAi cells resulted in increased levels of ?1 integrin fucosylation and rescued cell adhesion to type-I collagen. Treatment with UEA-1 (Ulex europaeus agglutinin-1), a lectin that recognizes FUT1-modified glycosylation structures, did not affect cell adhesion. In contrast, a FUT1-specific fucosidase diminished the activation of ?1 integrin. These results indicated that α1,2-fucosylation of ?1 integrin was not involved in integrin-collagen interaction, but promoted ?1 integrin activation. Moreover, we demonstrated that CRT regulated FUT1 mRNA degradation at the 3'-UTR. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that CRT stabilized FUT1 mRNA, thereby leading to an increase in fucosylation of ?1 integrin. Furthermore, increased fucosylation levels activate ?1 integrin, rather than directly modifying the integrin-binding sites. ? 2014 Biochemical Society.

Calreticulin (CRT) has been previously correlated with the differentiation of neuroblastoma (NB), implying a favorable prognostic factor. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been reported to participate in the behavior of NB. This study investigated the association of CRT and VEGF-A in NB cells. The expressions of VEGF-A and HIF-1α, with overexpression or knockdown of CRT, were measured in three NB cells (SH-SY5Y, SK-N-DZ, and stNB-V1). An inducible CRT NB cell line and knockdown CRT stable cell lines were also established. The impacts of CRT overexpression on NB cell apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation were also evaluated. We further examined the role of VEGF-A in the NB cell differentiation via VEGF receptor blockade. Constitutive overexpression of CRT led to NB cell differentiation without proliferation. Thus, an inducible CRT stNB-V1 cell line was generated by a tetracycline-regulated gene system. CRT overexpression increased VEGF-A and HIF-1α messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions in SH-SY5Y, SK-N-DZ, and stNB-V1 cells. CRT overexpression also enhanced VEGF-A protein expression and secretion level in conditioned media in different NB cell lines. Knockdown of CRT decreased VEGF-A and HIF-1α mRNA expressions and lowered VEGF-A protein expression and secretion level in conditioned media in different NB cell lines. We further demonstrated that NB cell apoptosis was not affected by CRT overexpression in stNB-V1 cells. Nevertheless, overexpression of CRT suppressed cell proliferation and enhanced cell differentiation in stNB-V1 cells, whereas blockage of VEGFR-1 markedly suppressed the expression of neuron-specific markers including GAP43, NSE2, and NFH, as well as TrkA, a molecular marker indicative of NB cell differentiation. Our findings suggest that VEGF-A is involved in CRT-related neuronal differentiation in NB. Our work may provide important information for developing a new therapeutic strategy to improve the outcome of NB patients. ? 2014, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Aims: This study examined the changes and the predictors of suicide ideation/suicide attempt and the moderating effects of psychosocial factors on the suicide ideation/suicide attempts among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients at 6–12?months post-diagnosis. Background: Suicide behaviours are prevalent among newly diagnosed HIV-positive patients, but the changes in suicide behaviours after diagnosis and the role of psychosocial factors in these behaviours are not well studied. Design: This study used a prospective longitudinal design. Methods: A total of 113 participants diagnosed as HIV-positive for 6–12?months were recruited from the outpatient department. Data were collected from June 2015 – October 2016. They were asked to complete Beck's Scale for Suicide Ideation, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, the Body Image Scale, the Meaning in Life Questionnaire and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support at baseline, the third month and the sixth month. Results: The results showed the high occurrence rates for suicide ideation ranging from 27.2%, 21.6%, and 25.8% and suicide attempt ranging from 14.7%, 8.6%, and 13.3% at the baseline, the third month and the sixth month, respectively. The education level, social support from family and depressive symptoms were the predictors of suicide ideation. The history of depression disorders, depressive symptoms and social support from friends significantly predicted suicide attempt. Meaning in life-presence moderated the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicide ideation. Conclusions: After diagnosed for 6–12?months, HIV-positive patients remain the high-risk group for suicide ideation and attempt. Suicide intervention targeting the risk and protective factors are required for HIV-positive patients. ? 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Neuroblastic tumors are childhood neoplasms that possess amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) activity and can theoretically be imaged by 18F-fluorodihydroxyphenylalanine (18F-FDOPA) PET, a new diagnostic tool for neuroendocrine tumors. In this study, we explored the accuracy and clinical role of 18F-FDOPA PET in neuroblastic tumors. Methods: From 2008 to 2011, patients with tissue-proven neuroblastic tumors receiving 18F-FDOPA PET at initial diagnosis or during follow-ups were enrolled. The sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDOPA PET were compared with those of 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine ( 123I-MIBG) scintigraphy and 18F-FDG PET, using tumor histology as the standard. The maximum standardized uptake value and tumor-to-liver uptake ratio on 18F-FDOPA PET were measured and correlated with AADC messenger RNA level in tumor tissue. Results: Fifty tumors from 34 patients, including 42 neuroblastic tumors and 8 lesions without viable tumor cells, were eligible for analysis. 18F-FDOPA PET successfully detected neuroblastic tumors of different histologic types in various anatomic sites, at a sensitivity of 97.6% (87.4%- 99.9%) and a specificity of 87.5% (47.3%-99.7%). In tumors with concomitant studies, 18F-FDOPA PET demonstrated a higher sensitivity than 123I-MIBG scintigraphy (n = 18; P = 0.0455) or 18F-FDG PET (n = 46; P = 0.0455). Among the 18 tumors with concomitant 123I- MIBG scans, 4 tumors with viable cells were 123I-MIBG-negative but were successfully detected by 18F-FDOPA PET. The tumor uptake of 18F-FDOPA significantly correlated with AADC expression (n 5 15 nonhepatic tumors; maximum standardized uptake value, P 5 0.0002; tumor-to-liver uptake ratio, P < 0.0001). Conclusion: 18F- FDOPA PET showed high sensitivity and specificity in detecting and tracking neuroblastic tumors in this preliminary study with a small cohort of patients and might be complementary to 123I-MIBG scintigraphy and 18F-FDG PET. By correlating with AADC expression, 18F-FDOPA PET might serve as a useful imaging tool for the functional assessment of neuroblastic tumors. COPYRIGHT ? 2013 by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, Inc.

Background: With the widespread use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), life expectancy of HIV-infected patients has significantly prolonged. An increasing number of HIV-infected patients are aging and concurrent use of medications are not uncommon for management of metabolic complications and cardiovascular diseases related to aging and prolonged exposure to cART. Methods: We reviewed medical records of all HIV-infected patients aged 40 years or older who had been followed at a university hospital for HIV care in Taiwan between January and December 2013. A standardized case record form was used to collect information on demographics and clinical characteristics, comorbidity, cART, and concurrent medications. Results: During the study period, 610 patients aged 40 to 49 years (mean, 44.1) and 310 aged 50 years or older (mean, 58.8) sought HIV care at this hospital. Compared with patients aged 40 to 49 years, those aged 50 years or older were significantly more likely to be female (15.9% vs 3.8%); to have received cART (97.7% vs 94.8%) and a lower plasma HIV RNA load (1.6 vs 1.7 log10 copies/ml); and to have diabetes mellitus (18.4% vs 4.6%), hypertension (31.0% vs 10.8%), hyperlipidemia (29.4% vs 11.6%), coronary artery disease (6.8% vs 0.5%), and an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.73 m2 (11.5% vs 2.7%); and were significantly less likely to have syphilis. Other than HIV infection, patients aged 50 years or older were more likely to have been receiving two or more concurrent medications than those aged 40 to 49 years (22.9% vs 6.4%). Conclusions: Our findings show a significant proportion of the HIV-infected patients aged 50 years or older have multiple comorbidities that may increase the risk for cardiovascular and renal complications. Issues of poly-pharmacy among the HIV-infected patients who are aging should be addressed to ensure adherence and minimize drug-drug interactions. ? 2014 Wu et al.

The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to compare the serologic response between human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) receiving two and three doses of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine and HIV-uninfected MSM receiving two doses of HAV vaccine. Between June 2009 and December 2010, 582 MSM aged 18 to 40 years who were seronegative for HAV were enrolled in the study. HIV-infected MSM received either two doses of HAV vaccine (1,440 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay units) (n = 140) with the second dose given at week 24 or three doses (n = 225) with the second and third dose given at weeks 4 and 24, respectively, while HIV-uninfected MSM (n = 217) received two doses. The primary endpoint was seroconversion at week 48. The geometric mean concentration (GMC) of anti-HAV antibody was determined at weeks 48 and 72. At week 48, the seroconversion rate was 75.7%, 77.8%, and 88.5% in intention-to-treat analysis for two-dose HIV-infected, three-dose HIV-infected, and two-dose HIV-uninfected MSM, respectively. The GMC of anti-HAV antibody at week 48 for three-dose HIV-infected MSM (2.29 ± 0.73 log10 mIU/mL) was significantly higher than that for two-dose HIV-infected MSM (1.94 ± 0.66; P < 0.01), but was lower than HIV-uninfected MSM (2.49 ± 0.42; P < 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed higher CD4 counts (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for per 50 cells/μL increase, 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.21) and undetectable plasma HIV RNA load (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.10-3.28) before HAV vaccination were predictive of seroconversion in HIV-infected patients. Conclusion: Serologic response rate to three and two doses of HAV vaccine was similar in HIV-infected MSM, which was lower than that in HIV-uninfected MSM receiving two doses. HAV vaccination in HIV-infected patients with a higher CD4 count and suppression of HIV replication increased the seroconversion rate. (HEPATOLOGY 2013) Copyright ? 2012 American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases.

Objectives: To evaluate whether the therapeutic effect of ultrasound-guided injections with 10 mg or 40 mg triamcinolone acetonide (TA) was dose-dependent in patients with idiopathic mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). Design: Prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled study with 12 weeks of follow-up. Setting: Rehabilitation outpatient clinic of a single medical center. Participants: Patients with CTS (N=56). Intervention: Participants were randomly assigned to 2 treatment groups for injection: (A) 40 mg TA+2% lidocaine hydrochloride or (B) 10 mg TA+2% lidocaine hydrochloride. Main Outcome Measures: Participants were evaluated using visual analog scale (VAS) and Boston Carpal Tunnel Questionnaire (BCTQ, including Symptom Severity Scale [SSS] and Functional Status Scale [FSS]) at baseline and 6 and 12 weeks after injection). Nerve conduction studies, including parameters of distal motor latency, amplitude of compound motor action potential, amplitude of sensory nerve action potential and sensory nerve conduction velocity of median nerve, and the patient's subjective impression of improvement, were recorded before injection and 6 and 12 weeks after injection. Results: No significant differences were observed in baseline demographic characteristics and clinical evaluations. The parameters in group A and B at baseline, 6 weeks, and 12 weeks were (1) SSS: 2.17±0.14, 1.19±0.04, and 1.34±0.09 and 1.87±0.11, 1.21±0.07, and 1.26±0.04; (2) FSS: 1.63±0.07, 1.27±0.06, and 1.33±0.08 and 1.50±0.10, 1.18±0.05, and 1.26±0.05; (3) VAS: 6.4±0.3, 2.2±0.3, and 3.0±0.1 and 6.7±0.3, 2.0±0.3, and 3.1±0.3, respectively, and significantly decreased after 6 and 12 weeks in both treatment groups (P<.05). All parameters of nerve conduction studies improved in both groups after 12 weeks (P<.05). VAS, BCTQ, and nerve conduction studies did not show significant intergroup differences after 6 and 12 weeks. Conclusion: In patients with idiopathic mild to moderate CTS, ultrasound-guided injection with 10 and 40 mg TA yield similar improvements in BCTQ, VAS, and nerve conduction studies at the 12-week follow-up. ? 2020 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine

Among 345 persons who underwent indirect hemagglutination (IHA) serological assays and assays of specific amebic antigens in their stool samples, 24 of 36 (66.7%) who were seropositive for Entamoeba histolytica had intestinal amebiasis as determined by antigen assays compared with 2 of 309 (0.2%) who were seronegative (odds ratio, 307; 95% confidence interval, 64.9 to 1,451). The estimated cost to detect a case of intestinal amebiasis by serology followed by antigen assays ($52) could be reduced by 74.3% and 69.9%, respectively, compared with the costs of the concurrent use of both assays ($202) and the antigen assays alone ($173). Our finding suggests that IHA assays followed by specific-amebic-antigen assays can be cost-effective in the diagnosis of intestinal amebiasis among persons with or without human immunodeficiency virus infection who are at risk for E. histolytica infection. Copyright ? 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

The purpose of the study was to develop the Self-affliction Tendency Scale (SATS) for college students. Based on phenomenon observed and literature reviewed, the authors proposed a framework for studying the concept of “self-affliction” as a tendency of self-destruction in various aspects ranging from cognitive, emotional, behavioral, to interpersonal relationships. The SATS is comprised of 30 items in 7-point Likert-type scale and can be completed between 5 to 10 minutes. It included four dimensions: existential alienation, dysfunction, poor self-care, and contradictory relationship. The values of reliability and validity on the SATS were calculated from a sample of 2,679, all of which were Taiwanese undergraduate college students from ten universities. Accordingly, the internal consistency reliability (N = 172~1,050), test-retest reliability (N = 66 and 98), construct validity (N = 470), cross-validation (N = 519), and criterion-related validity of the developed scale (N = 172~1,050) were evaluated. Seven tests were conducted to relate the 4-dimension model to various psychological issues in the Taiwanese society. These issues included self-esteem, mental health, internet addiction, loneliness, depression, and happiness. Descriptive statistics, including means, variances, and item-total correlations, were computed for each item. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, one-factor repeated measures analysis of variance, and discriminant analysis were conducted to differentiate the similarity and difference between variables. Internal consistency of the scores on SES and its subscales was estimated by Cronbach’s coefficient alpha (full scale was .94~.96, subscale of existential alienation was .81~.86, subscale of dysfunction was .93~.96, subscale of poor self-care was .76~.84, and subscale of contradictory relationship was .82~.90). Stability coefficient was based on 2 test-retest procedures (an interval of 2 weeks was .89, and an interval of 3 weeks was .72). Validation of the SATS was based on a 4-dimension model, followed by cross-validation on the calibration sample (N = 470) and validation sample (N = 519). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the model was well supported by observed data and the stability of the model was confirmed. The result had supported the scale structure. These evidences thus generally supported the 4-dimension self-affliction model. Applications of the SATS and the suggestions of future study were discussed. ? 2017, National Taiwan Normal University. All rights reserved.

Diet modification plays an important role in nephrolithiasis. Development of an easy, ready-to-use beverage such as a commercial juice drink to use as a preventive treatment for renal calculi formation would be widely welcomed. We previously developed a novel Drosophila model for the study of nephrolithiasis. It provides a new well-established drug discovery platform for this common disease. In our current study, we used the Drosophila model to investigate the preventive effects of various commercial juices as potential treatments for nephrolithiasis. Our results showed that apple, cranberry, orange, and pomegranate juices failed to reduce calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystal formation, whereas our positive control - potassium citrate (K-citrate) - significantly prevented CaOx crystal formation. Unlike the commercial fruit juices that were tested, the administration of K-citrate significantly ameliorated the ethylene glycol (EG)-induced life-span reduction in treated flies. These results indicate that EG-induced CaOx nephrolithiasis in Drosophila can be prevented by K-citrate, but not by commercial citrate-containing juices. However, the inhibitory capability of citrate-containing juices to reduce renal stone formation in humans requires further elucidation. ? 2013, Kaohsiung Medical University. Published by Elsevier Taiwan LLC. All rights reserved.

Purpose: To describe the epidemiology and outcome of the first 100 COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. Methods: We included the first 100 patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection in Taiwan. Demographic, clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data were extracted from outbreak investigation reports and medical records. Results: Illness onset of the 100 patients was during January 11 to March 16, 2020. Twenty-nine (29%) had at least one underlying condition and ten (10%) were asymptomatic. Seventy-one were imported, including four clusters. Twenty-nine were locally-acquired, including four clusters. The median days from onset to report was longer in locally-acquired cases (10 vs 3 days). Three patients died (case fatality rate 3%) and all of them had underlying conditions. As of May 13, 2020, 93 had been discharged in stable condition; the median hospital stay was 30 days (range, 10–79 days). Conclusion: The first 100 cases of COVID-19 in Taiwan showed the persistent threat of imported cases from different countries. Even though sporadic locally-acquired disease has been identified, through contact investigation, isolation, quarantine and implementation of social distancing measures, the epidemic is contained to a manageable level with minimal local transmission. ? 2020

Proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) C-terminal fragments (CTFs) by γ-secretase underlies the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). An RNA interference screen using APP-CTF [99-residue CTF (C99)]- and Notch-specific γ-secretase interaction assays identified a unique ErbB2-centered signaling network that was predicted to preferentially govern the proteostasis of APP-C99. Consistently, significantly elevated levels of ErbB2 were confirmed in the hippocampus of human AD brains. We then found that ErbB2 effectively suppressed autophagic flux by physically dissociating Beclin-1 from the Vps34–Vps15 complex independent of its kinase activity. Down-regulation of ErbB2 by CL-387,785 decreased the levels of C99 and secreted amyloid-β in cellular, zebrafish, and mouse models of AD, through the activation of autophagy. Oral administration of an ErbB2-targeted CL-387,785 for 3 wk significantly improves the cognitive functions of APP/presenilin-1 (PS1) transgenic mice. This work unveils a noncanonical function of ErbB2 in modulating autophagy and establishes ErbB2 as a therapeutic target for AD. ? 2017, National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an emerging cause of morbidity and mortality among HIV-positive patients receiving successful combination antiretroviral therapy, but their CVD risk has been rarely investigated in Asia–Pacific region. We aimed to assess the CVD risk of HIV-positive Taiwanese outpatients. Methods: We did cross-sectional questionnaire interviews to collect information of HIV-positive Taiwanese patients aged 40–79 at the HIV clinics of a medical center from 1 March to 31 August, 2017. The Framingham Risk Score (FRS), Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) risk score and Data-Collection on Adverse effects of Anti-HIV Drugs (D:A:D) risk score were used to estimate their CVD risk. Results: Of the screened 1251 patients, 1006 (80.4%) with complete data to assess their CVD risk were included for analyses. The prevalence of patients aged 40–75 and with a high CVD risk was 30.6% by FRS, 3.7% by D:A:D (R) risk score, and 22.2% by ASCVD risk score. In multiple logistic regression, older age, current smoking, higher systolic blood pressure, and higher triglyceride and fasting glucose levels were independently associated with the ASCVD risk score ?7.5%. If current smokers aged 55–59 had stopped smoking, the proportions of them with a 10-year CVD risk of ?10% by FRS and ?7.5% by ASCVD risk score would have decreased by 35.3% and 20.0%, respectively. Conclusions: Higher CVD risk estimates among HIV-positive Taiwanese aged 40–75 were associated with an older age, current smoking, higher systolic blood pressure, hypertriglyceridemia, and hyperglycemia. Smoking cessation could potentially lead to significant decreases of CVD risk. ? 2019

Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate, using ultrasound measurements, the correlation between coracohumeral ligament (CHL) thickness and restricted shoulder range of motion (ROM) in patients with adhesive capsulitis (AC). The seco