The hydroxylase cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is regulated by the inflammation-limiting aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), but CYP1A1 immune functions remain unclear. We observed CYP1A1 overexpression ...in peritoneal macrophages (PMs) isolated from mice following LPS or heat-killed Escherichia. coli (E. coli) challenge. CYP1A1 overexpression augmented TNF-α and IL-6 production in RAW264.7 cells (RAW) by enhancing JNK/AP-1 signalling. CYP1A1 overexpression also promoted 12S-hydroxy-5Z,8Z,10E,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (12(S)-HETE) production in activated RAW, while a 12(S)-HETE antibody attenuated and 12(S)-HETE alone induced inflammatory responses. Macrophages harbouring hydroxylase-deficient CYP1A1 demonstrated reduced 12(S)-HETE generation and LPS-induced TNF-α/IL-6 secretion. CYP1A1 overexpression also impaired phagocytosis of bacteria via decreasing the expression of scavenger receptor A (SR-A) in PMs. Mice injected with CYP1A1-overexpressing PMs were more susceptible to CLP- or E. coli-induced mortality and bacteria invading, while Rhapontigenin, a selective CYP1A1 inhibitor, improved survival and bacteria clearance of mice in sepsis. CYP1A1 and 12(S)-HETE were also elevated in monocytes and plasma of septic patients and positively correlated with SOFA scores. Macrophage CYP1A1 disruption could be a promising strategy for treating sepsis. Video abstract.
Macrolide-resistant Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MRMP) infection is increasing worldwide. However, its clinical significance is still uncertain.
The data of the Laboratory Medicine Department of Chang Gung ...Memorial Hospital in northern Taiwan was searched for children with molecular confirmed macrolide-susceptible Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MSMP) and MRMP infections between January 2011 and December 2018. The clinical features, laboratory data, and chest image presentations were compared between patients with MRMP and MSMP infections and between patients with good and poor macrolide response, respectively.
Records from 158 patients were recovered. Of the enrolled patients 34 (22%) suffered MRMP infection, 27 (17%) had pleural effusions, and 47 (32%) had poor macrolide response. The macrolide resistance rate was 12% in 2011, 20% between 2015 and 2016, and 50% between 2017 and 2018, respectively. Other than a poor macrolide response, the MRMP and MSMP infections are clinically indistinguishable. The presence of pleural effusion and MRMP infections were found to be independently associated with a poor macrolide response, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 14.3 (4.9–42.0) and 14.6 (5.4–40), respectively. The macrolide resistance rate of the patients with a poor macrolide response was 49% and 18% among all the patients enrolled and the patients with a pleural effusion, respectively.
The macrolide resistance rate had possibly increased in recent years in Taiwan and should be continuously monitored. In addition, the macrolide response could be misleading in predicting a macrolide resistance especially for the patients with a pleural effusion.
Designing anthropomorphic prosthetic hands that approach human-level performance remains a great challenge. Commercial prosthetics are still inferior to human hands in several important properties, ...such as weight, size, fingertip force, grasp velocity, and active and passive dexterities. We present a novel design based on the under-actuated da Vinci’s mechanism driven by a flexible twisted string actuator (TSA). The distributed drive scheme allows structural optimization using a motion capture database to reproduce the natural movement of human hands while keeping adaptability to free-form objects. The application of TSA realizes a high conversion from motor torque to tendon contraction force while keeping the structure light, flexible, and compact. Our anthropomorphic prosthetic hand, consisting of six active and 15 passive degrees of freedom, has a weight of 280 g, approximately 70% of that of a human hand. It passed 30 of the 33 Feix grasp tests on objects in daily living and retained a loading capacity of 5 kg. This simple but intelligent mechanism leads to excellent stability and adaptability and renders feasible wide applications in prosthetics and in service robots.
Prolonged jaundice is a commonly evaluated condition. The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors of jaundice in healthy infants at one month of age. This prospective cohort study enrolled ...509 healthy infants from 2013 to 2018. Those with gestational age (GA) less than 35 weeks, birth weight less than 2000 grams, and illness were not enrolled. Jaundice was defined as a transcutaneous bilirubin value ≥5 mg/dL at 25-45 days of age. Umbilical cord blood samples were obtained to examine seven common gene variants. The incidence of prolonged jaundice was 32.2%. Prolonged jaundice was more common in infants with exclusive breastfeeding (p < 0.001), GA 35~37 w (p = 0.001), stool passage >4 times/d (p < 0.001), previous phototherapy (p < 0.001), and gene variant of G to A at nt 211 of UGT1A1 (p = 0.004). A multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated the greatest risk for prolonged jaundice was exclusive breastfeeding (OR = 2.818, 95% CI = 1.851-4.292), followed by previous phototherapy (OR = 2.593, 95% CI = 1.716-3.919), GA 35~37 w (OR = 2.468, 95% CI = 1.350-4.512), and G to A at nt 211 of UGT1A1 (OR = 1.645, 95% CI = 1.070-2.528). In conclusion, infants with exclusive breastfeeding, GA 35~37 w, previous phototherapy, or G to A at nt 211 of UGT1A1 are at greater risk of prolonged jaundice. Healthcare professionals should consider these risk factors in their assessment of prolonged jaundice.
Healthy buildings are the future of industrial development and a global trend. This study is based on the local demand in Taiwan for the certification of healthy building assessments. It consolidates ...fifteen relevant assessment indicators and the literature on healthy buildings and green buildings from both domestic and international sources. Through expert questionnaires, the study investigates the importance and weight values of assessment items, selecting seven assessment indicators (air, water, light, exercise, comfort, materials, and mental well-being), seventeen assessment items, and 65 assessment sub-items. The weight values of each indicator are statistically analyzed. Based on the expert questionnaires, a rating system and scoring criteria are formulated, ultimately constructing the “Taiwan Healthy Building Assessment Indicators.” The aim is for this framework to serve as a reference for the government in establishing a healthy building certification system as well as to enhance public awareness and emphasis on human health.
The Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has brought catastrophic impact on the world since the beginning of December 2019. Extra precautionary measures against COVID-19 during and after ...delivery are pivotal to ensure the safety of the baby and health care workers. Based on current literature, it is recommended that delivery decisions be discussed between obstetricians and neonatologists prior to delivery, and designated negative pressure delivery rooms should be arranged for COVID person under investigation (PUI). During delivery, a minimal number of experienced staff attending delivery should don personal protective equipment (PPE) and follow the neonatal resuscitation program (NRP). Positive pressure ventilation is best used in a negative pressure room if available. At-risk babies should be transported in an isolette, and tested for COVID-19 in a negative pressure room soon after bathing. Skin-to-skin contact and breast milk feed should continue under certain circumstances. Although newborns with COVID-19 infections often present with symptoms that mimic sepsis and one third of affected patients may demand some form of respiratory support, short-term prognoses are favorable and most recover within two weeks of symptoms onset. In this article, we will further elaborate on topics covering timing and mode of delivery, antenatal steroid, vertical transmission, delivery room management, airway management, transport, testing and isolation after birth, skin-to-skin contact, breast milk feeding, clinical features, outcomes, and discharge plans. In addition, we also share our experiences of encountering neonates born of suspected COVID-19 positive mothers.
To avoid climate change, the world must reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2025 to achieve the goal of a sustainable environment. Improving resource efficiency is one of the important strategies to ...achieve a sustainable environment. Effectively recycling resources and reducing energy consumption have become important international issues today.
Therefore, this research was to recycle waste oyster shells, combined it with geopolymer technology, and added foaming agents to create an innovative building material that is 100% recyclable after use – “Foam heat-insulating bricks”, thereby reducing carbon emissions and building energy consumption. Through physical properties (apparent density, porosity, water absorption, etc.) and mechanical properties (compressive strength and flexural strength), discussed factors such as lime-sand ratio, alkaline solution concentration, foaming agent, etc., effected on the heat-insulating performance and environmental protection performance of foam heat-insulating bricks. The newly prepared foam heat-insulating bricks were also evaluated for their environmental and economic aspects according to relevant standards.
The results show that::(1) The higher the concentration of alkaline solution and the greater the proportion of lime-sand, which the mechanical properties of the finished product were the higher. Samples 10 M−55, 10 M−64 and RWITGP-60 can meet the G2 lightweight bricks standard; Samples WITGP-46, WITGP-55 and WITGP-64 can meet the roof heat-insulating brick standard. (2) The better the foaming performance, the higher the porosity and water absorption, which the thermal heat-insulating effect were better, but the worse the compressive strength and flexural strength. The foaming performance of the foaming agent is Sodium-perborate(NaBO3) > Aluminum(Al) > Nothing-added(WITGP). (3) Oyster shell foamed heat-insulating bricks are 100 % recyclable, have better performance after remanufacturing, and have extremely high development potential. (4) It could pass the “Toxicity Characteristics Leaching Procedure” test and comply with Taiwan's general specifications for green building materials. (5) The heat flow resistance of adding different foaming agents is aluminum with the greatest benefit, and the order is: Aluminum (Al = 133.4)W/m2 > Sodium-perborate (NaBO3 = 93.6)W/m2 > Nothing-added (WITGP = 90.6)W/m2 > Concrete (CON = 68.2)W/m2. (6) The oyster shell heat-insulating bricks produces 0.473 kg of carbon dioxide. Compared with concrete heat-insulating bricks, it can reduce carbon emissions by 48.7 % and save an economic price of 451.15 yuan/brick.
Background. Infant holding position may reduce vaccination pain. However, the optimal position for young infants remains controversial. Objectives. To compare the effectiveness of holding infants in ...the supine position and the effectiveness of holding infants in upright position for relieving acute pain from vaccine injection. Methods. This prospective cohort study enrolled 6–12-week-old healthy infants. We examined infant pain responses by evaluating the following three categories: (1) crying, (2) irritability, and (3) facial expression. Results. In total, 282 infants were enrolled, with 103 and 179 held in the supine and upright positions, respectively. At 30 s after vaccination, the infants in the supine position showed a larger decrease in crying ( p < 0.001 ), irritability ( p = 0.002 ), and pained facial expression ( p = 0.001 ) than did those in the upright position. However, there was no significant difference in pain response between two groups at 180 s after intervention. Conclusion. In 2-month-old infants, the supine position may reduce acute pain more effectively than does the upright position. Our findings provide a clinical strategy for relieving vaccination pain in young infants.
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