Objectives: Because of the guest worker policy in Taiwan, health management for migrant workers focuses on controlling infectious disease rather than protecting the right to health. Many migrant ...workers in Taiwan are engaged in so-called 3K industries where there are higher occupational injury rates, and they generally work overtime. This study, therefore, explored the extent to which migrant workers suffered from health hazards. Methods: This study was based on the iACT (International Action and Cooperation Team) project concerning health consultation outreach to migrant workers, the majority of whom are Filipinos, in North Kaohsiung. It analyzed the health consultation charts accumulated over almost three years, and focused on the social context of health issues. Results: The migrant workers in this study tended to have higher blood pressure, suggesting that they might also have other physical and mental problems. Workers who were less educated, male, and working in manufacturing plants were liable to have
To summarize the clinical and fundus imaging features of purified protein derivative and T-spot positive tubercular serpiginous-like choroiditis (PTP-SLC) patients.
This retrospective study ...consecutively enrolled 13 PTP-SLC patients (21 eyes) in Beijing Tongren Hospital from November 2015 to November 2017. There were 8 males and 5 females with an average age of (45.2±12.1) years. Medical history and results of systemic and ophthalmological examinations, such us fundus autofluorescence photography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein fundus angiography (FFA) and indocyanine green angiography, were evaluated.
Eight patients had binocular disease with an average interval time of (8.4±7.9) years. The average visual acuity of all patients was 0.3, and 4 patients had a clear history of exposure to tuberculosis. The active lesions in the PTP-SLC patients were homogeneous and creamish-yellow with unclear boundaries. Fundus autofluorescence showed an ill-defined, diffuse hyperautofluorescent zone. OCT show
We focus on how peripheral nerves or their tissue constituents including Schwann cells, fibroblasts and neurotrophic factors are used to overcome the unfavorable extrinsic CNS environment and ...upregulate the intrinsic growth potential of injured neurons for the enhancement of neuronal survival and axonal regeneration of axotomized retinal ganglion cells in adult mammals.
To assess the potential of B7-1 vaccine in inducing immunity to leukemic cells.
B7-1 gene was introduced into L615 cells and then the positive clone (L615-B7) highly expressing B7-1 was selected. ...Tumorigenic and immunoprotective activities of L615-B7 cells were studied in vivo. T cell functions of cytotoxicity, proliferation and growth factor secretion were detected in vitro.
Non-radioactive in situ hybridization and image analysis were used to study the distribution of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNA and expression of the EBV latent genes, BNLF1, and BamH1 W sequence, in ...biopsy specimens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and chronic nasopharyngitis. The results showed that the high copy numbers of EBV genome and the expression of BamH1 W sequence, which was related to the transcription of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA 1) and the initiation of viral replication, occurred almost simultaneously in all poorly- or un-differentiated NPC. Furthermore, latent membrane protein (LMP) mRNA was expressed even in the nasopharyngeal epithelium with atypical hyperplasia. These results suggested that enormous replication of EBV episomes occurred with the progression of NPC and might be resulted from the activation of the viral promoter in the poorly- or un-differentiated stage of NPC. The inappropriate expression of LMP might be responsible for the proliferation and de-differentiation of nasopharynge
The early detection and prompt treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may prolong life and improve the quality of life of affected patients. In order to compare sensitivity and specificity of ...various screening biomarkers, identify subjects with a high risk of developing HCC, and estimate prevalence and incidence of HCC among subjects, a community-based HCC screening program was implemented in Sanchi, Chutung, Potzu, and Kaohsu, Taiwan Island as well as Makung, Huhsi and Paihsa in Penghu Islets. First stage screening of HCC was based on serological markers including hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP > or = 20 ng/mL), alanine transaminase (> or = 40 IU/L), and aspartate transaminase (> or = 45 IU/L); as well as history of liver cirrhosis or HCC among first-degree relatives. Subjects who were positive for at least one of above six first-stage criteria were referred for second-stage screening by abdominal ultrasonography. Confirmatory d
To study the effect of B7 and DC vaccines in inducing anti-tumor immunity in murine T-lymphocyte leukemia L615.
In vivo, murine mortality and survival were observed to compare the difference between ...B7 and DC vaccine in inducing immunoprotection against the subsequent challenge of live L615 cells;in vitro, specific cytotoxic assay and MLR were performed to test the specific cytotoxicity and proliferative activity of effective T cells.
Both vaccines could efficiently improve T cell mediated anti-leukemic immunity in syngenic hosts, and DC vaccine was revealed to be more efficient. In vitro observations showed that both vaccines could induce tumor specific cytotoxicity and proliferative activity of effective T cells.
DC vaccine is promising in tumor immunotherapy owing to its safety, efficiency and convenience.
To investigate the potential of autologous T cell killing of heat treated chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells (autologous tumor killing, ATK).
(51)Cr release assay was used to measure the ATK ...activity of autologous T cells against CML cells treated with 42 degrees C for 30 minutes (heat) or 37 degrees C for 30 minutes (non-heat). The phenotypes of T cells and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) expression of CML cells were measured by flow cytometry (FCM). T cells from the CML patients were stimulated and expanded by autologous mixed lymphocyte/tumor cell cultures (MLTC).
ATK activity of autologous T cells to the non-heated and heated CML cells were found in 4 (19.05%) and 10 (47.62%) of the 21 cases, respectively. The ATK activity of interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulated autologous T cells against heated CML cells was markedly higher than that of unstimulated autologous T cells against non-heated CML cells (P < 0.001). FCM analysis showed that no HSP70 was expressed on the CML cell membranes whether heated or non-h
To study the expression of miRNA-181a in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients with normal karyotype to probe its prognosis significance.
The expression level of miRNA-181a in bone marrow mononuclear ...cells of 120 de novo AML patients with normal karyotype was detected by real time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The direct sequencing method was used to detect IDH1, IDH2, NPM1, FLT3-ITD, DNMT3A and CEBPα mutations in CN-AML patients after PCR. The relationship between miRNA-181a expression and gene mutation, the clinical parameters and prognosis were analyzed.
The rates of overall surviva1 (OS) in high expression and low expression groups were 25.0 months and 15.0 months, respectively (
<0.05) . Relapse free survival (RFS) in high expression and low expression groups were 21.4 months and 11.2 months, respectively (
<0.05) . Significantly higher level hemoglobin, complete remission rate and proportion of wild type NPM1 expression in the high expression of miRNA-181a group were observed when compared with the low
