J Formos Med Assoc
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Rosacea has been linked to inflammatory bowel disease and small bowel bacterial overgrowth. We aimed to investigate the fecal microbial profiling and the potential gene functions between rosacea and non-rosacea subjects. ⋯ An altered fecal microbial richness and composition were observed in rosacea patients. The distinct microbial composition might be related to sulfur metabolism, cobalamin and carbohydrate transport.
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Despite the high prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, reports on severe life-threatening M. pneumoniae pneumonia (MPP) in children are limited. ⋯ M. pneumoniae infection can cause severe life-threatening pneumonia in children. Delayed effective and second-line antibiotic treatments are associated with severe life-threatening MPP.
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This study aimed to clarify whether brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a biomarker for cognitive dysfunction in children with type 1 diabetes. ⋯ The children with type 1 diabetes had a lower serum BDNF level and poorer neurocognitive function than normal healthy children, especially those with GAD65-Ab positive diabetes. Poor glycemic control was correlated with worse cognitive performance.
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Regulatory T-cell (Treg) defects may cause autoreactivity of both T and B cells, leading to autoimmune disease including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The immune response defects in SLE are characterized by the decreased expression of CD4, CD25, and Foxp3, known as inducible Treg (iTreg). Therefore, restoring iTreg expression can reverse autoimmunity states into immune tolerances leading to normal immune responses. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have immunomodulatory properties to control inflammatory milieu, including in SLE inflammation by releasing TGFβ1, IL10, and PGE2, thus MSCs can potentially generate iTreg cells. However, the mechanisms of MSC-released TGFβ1 to promote iTreg generation in human SLE remains unclear. This study aims to analyze the role of MSC-released TGFβ1 in generating CD4+, CD25+, and Foxp3+ expression in iTreg cells from human SLE peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). ⋯ MSCs promote iTreg cells generation from human SLE PBMCs by releasing TGFβ1 to control SLE disease.
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To evaluate the therapeutic responsiveness of office-based salivary gland ductal irrigation in patients with chronic sialoadenitis. ⋯ Simple salivary ductal irrigation without complex equipment can be performed as an outpatient procedure to alleviate glandular swelling or xerostomia in patients with Sjogren's syndrome, postradiotherapy sialoadenitis or post-RAI sialoadenitis, and it can be considered an alternative management approach for patients refractory to conventional strategies.